06/22/2026
Thank you to our donors, volunteers, and every single person who has supported the closet in any way. ------------------------------
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 22, 2026
Jones County Community Closet
Earns National Achievement Award
Trenton, NC – The Jones County Community Closet has been recognized with a 2026 Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties (NACo). The awards honor innovative, effective county government programs that strengthen services for residents.
Launched in early 2025, the Jones County Community Closet was born from discussions among staff within Jones County's consolidated Health and Human Services Agency as they worked together to identify creative ways to better serve the public. Employees recognized that many citizens faced barriers accessing clothing, while at the same time many usable items were leaving the community through traditional donation channels. The Community Closet was created to bridge that gap by keeping donated resources local and making them freely available to all citizens.
Built on the simple philosophy of neighbors helping neighbors, the Community Closet returns freely donated items directly back to the community at no cost. What began as a way to meet basic needs has grown into a community-wide sharing initiative where everyone is welcome to donate and everyone is welcome to shop. Residents regularly pass along quality items they no longer use and find something that better fits their current needs, creating a sustainable exchange that benefits the entire community. Along the way, the program also ensures that foster families, individuals recovering from hardships, and others facing life challenges have access to the same resources without stigma or barriers. By keeping usable goods in circulation and within the community, the Community Closet demonstrates that sharing resources is not only compassionate—it is practical, economical, and environmentally responsible.
The success of the Community Closet is a direct reflection of the community's generosity. Without the thousands of donated items provided by citizens, churches, businesses, and community partners, the program would not exist. Equally important are the student volunteers, community service workers, church volunteers, and county staff who have dedicated countless hours to sorting, organizing, stocking, and assisting shoppers. Their collective efforts have transformed a simple idea into a sustainable community resource.
Through collaboration, volunteerism, and an overwhelming spirit of generosity, the Jones County Community Closet has become a regional model for how local governments and communities can work together to share resources, reduce waste, and strengthen the quality of life for everyone they serve.
“This national recognition validates the hard work of our volunteers, donors, and staff who have made the Community Closet a vital resource for our community. It demonstrates that even small, local initiatives can make a significant impact and serve as a model for communities across the country.”— Kyle Smith, County Manager, Jones County
Each year, NACo’s Achievement Awards recognize outstanding programming in 18 categories aligned with the vast, comprehensive services counties provide. The categories include children and youth, criminal justice and public safety, libraries, management, information technology, health, civic engagement and more. Launched in 1970, the program is designed to celebrate innovation in county government. Each nominated program is judged on its own merits and not against other applications.
For more information about the Jones County Community Closet, visit jonescountync.gov/government/community-closet/
The National Association of Counties (NACo) strengthens America’s counties, including nearly 40,000 county elected officials and 3.6 million county employees. Founded in 1935, NACo unites county officials to advocate for county government priorities in federal policymaking; promote exemplary county policies and practices; nurture leadership skills and expand knowledge networks; optimize county and taxpayer resources and cost savings; and enrich the public’s understanding of county government. www.naco.org
