Help 'The Closet' Girl Win A Car

She calls him baby Angel. At sixteen years old, Michelle Hensley began to change the world, one person at a time.

In 2013, Hensley, who was a student at Bloom Trail, heard of a baby in the community that was severely beaten.

“I found out about baby Angel,” said Hensley. “We found out he had no clothes or diapers and was hurt. I began a collection for him like bottles and clothes anything he would need. The donations just poured in.”

Six months after Baby Angel, another emergency in the local area turned Hensley’s heart for a plea to help.

“I started hearing things about the community on Facebook, “ Hensley said. “ here was a fire in Steger, a family lost everything. They needed clothes, appliances and furniture.”

Bambino’s Restaurant in Steger offered their facility to hold a fundraiser. Hensley organized a spaghetti dinner and raised funds for clothes, household items and appliances.

Things took off!

“It was hard to monitor needs and donations so my mom and I came up with a Facebook page called The Community Closet of Steger,” Hensley said. “ We work off the page, people put needs on there and then we match donations with the needs.”

In six months, with donations from the community, Michelle has been able to outfit a wedding for a homeless couple, provide clothes for kids whose parents died suddenly, provide Thanksgiving meals to seven families and fill clothing orders for countless of local families.

Michelle’s family has joined her adventure in helping others. Mom, Laura Hensley has washed, organized and have sorted mounds of clothing in their home. “This is a great idea my daughter came up with,” mom Hensley said. “ When you go and ask for help at agencies, they want to know your whole life history. Some want you to jump through so many hurdles. People have gone through enough, such as losing a home, a parent or having a fire. You don’t want to deal with another thing,”

As Michelle is stocking shelves with clothes she agrees with her mother. “We want to make sure people can get something in a timely fashion. People going through hard times need clothes NOW,” added the younger Hensley.

The Closet stocks from newborn size up to a ladies size 7XL.

Why did Michelle start The Community Closet of Steger? “Right now I’m attending college at Trinity in Palos Heights majoring in Math Education. I’m hoping to teach at Bloom or Bloom Trail,” said Hensley. “I want to go back to the community that helped me. To get where I want to go, I want to give back.”

Michelle gives her parents and teachers credit for the way she is involved in the community.

“My parents taught me to give back to the community and my teachers encouraged me as well. Bloom Trail taught me about diversity and helping. I would hear stories in the hallways, my first thought was, let’s help do something about this. Bloom Trail helped me become the person I am today.”

When Michelle saw that not all the girls could purchase a dress for homecoming or prom, she began the Closet Dress giveaway. Last year for prom about 35 girls got a dress. For homecoming this year, there were over a hundred dresses donated and 70 girls got a dress, shoes and jewelry if they wanted it. “When we posted about needing prom dresses, area high school teachers got involved,” mom Hensley said. “Teachers from Bloom, Crete Monee and other schools bought dresses for girls that couldn’t afford it. We want to make sure every girl feels and looks like a princess for her dance,” added Hensley.

A few weeks ago, Michelle, her mom Laura, her dad Glen, and brother Robert moved into a second Closet location in Dyer Indiana.

“I didn’t expect this to be as big as it has grown, “ the younger Hensley said. “This has become self sustaining and now we have a new place to put more clothing in, The First Christian Church of Dyer,” she added.

Today, Michelle needs your help to win a car.

“My mom nominated me to win a car from Homewood Chevrolet, I had no idea,” Hensley said. “This car would really help me get back and forth to The Closet to my house and to college, which is forty minutes away. It has a really big trunk and the seats fold down to carry lot’s of donations.”

As of this writing, Michelle is between first and second to win the car. She is asking for you to vote. Go to the link:

www.homewoodchevycares.#39416FE

Besides wishing to win this car from Homewood Chevrolet, Michelle has another wish.

“I would like to see ’The Closet’ in every town. I think it would be nice,” added the younger Hensley.

“If someone from each town, such as a church, school or even hospital had a room of clothes, where they can give people clothes, it would make a difference, “ mom Hensley said. “It costs nothing to help but can change a person’s outlook.”

If you would like to donate like new clothes, dresses, coats, shoes jewelry and more donations can be dropped off at the Hensley residence at 35 West 36th Place in Steger. Also donations are being accepted during office hours at First Christian Church of Dyer located at 704 Joliet Street in Dyer Indiana. Church phone number is 219-865-6646. If you know of someone in need, please join The Community Closet of Steger Facebook page. You don’t need to live in Steger to receive help.