God’s Closet is a community service non-profit [501(c) 3] ministry of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church. The Inspiration
Olivia (not her real name) attended Vacation Bible School at the Adventist Community Church of Vancouver. She never smiled, often misbehaved and distracted the other children, and always sat by herself. The same thing happened when she attended a children’s day camp presented by
the church later that summer. The volunteers soon noticed that Olivia had been wearing the same exact outfit every day – and that it was the same outfit she’d worn every day a few weeks prior at VBS. With permission from the girl’s mother, volunteers put together a new wardrobe for Olivia. Olivia had never had clothes with tags on them before. The day she walked into the church wearing a new outfit she was an entirely new girl. She walked through the hallway with her head held high and a smile on her face. She sat quietly in group activities and participated in the program cheerfully. She even began interacting with the other children. Identifying a Need
Laura Pascoe and Jayne Kack, church members and volunteers, knew Olivia wasn’t the only child in need in the community. But how could they find the others, and how would they help them once they did? In September 2011, Laura, Jayne, and three others and came up with a solution: God’s Closet. Laura knew the founder of the God’s Closet in Spokane, Wash., and worked with her to create a similar ministry at the Adventist Community Church of Vancouver. Two months later, God’s Closet Vancouver opened its doors for the first time. Stocked with generous donations of quality and gently used clothing for children aged newborn through 18 years, 225 families left with bags full and faces beaming. Why it’s Not Free
A core value of who we are is ensuring that the families who come to God’s Closet retain their personal dignity. It’s very important to us that they understand we’re here to offer a hand up, not a handout. Each family pays $1 to fill their bags with clothes for their children, and their dollars add up to our budget to make God’s Closet happen. This means they are as invested in our ministry as we are. They make this service possible. It takes over 100 volunteer hours to prepare the day before God’s Closet opens each time. Every single item is touched and examined from top to bottom and checked for any defects: Missing buttons, broken zippers, stains, frayed hems, holes, etc. Anything we wouldn’t want for our own children is set aside to be repaired or discarded. Who Can Benefit
Our current shoppers are families who cannot afford to shop even at thrift stores. Some of them are:
• Divorced parents
• Grandparents who have taken in their grandchildren
• Foster parents
• Families who have experienced a life situation change, such as:
o Loss of job
o Death in the family
o Chronic illness
If you know of someone who could benefit from God’s Closet, please invite them. God’s Closet operates the first Friday of February, May, August, and November. See our “Upcoming Events” tab for details.
