Oakland County Foster Closet Faces Closure Threat

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FARMINGTON HILLS, MI – Without a quick infusion of about $2,000 cash, an Oakland County nonprofit that offers free clothing and supplies to foster children will permanently close.

Michele Austin, of Farmington Hills, who has been running the Foster Closet of Michigan – Oakland County from her Farmington Hills home since August 2013, told Patch she has until April 18 to remove three storage sheds from her property because they’re in violation of city code.

The Farmington Area Jaycees Chapter has established a crowdfunding effort to raise the money needed to find another location for the local closet, one of the largest Foster Closet of Michigan branches.

A GoFundMe crowdfunding page has been established to raise the $2,000 needed to find another location. About $340 had been raised the first day of the campaign.

“Most foster children that come into care come in with virtually nothing but the clothes they’re wearing,” said Austin, who has fostered 16 children with her wife, Tammy Gabourie. Together, the couple also have five children they’ve either adopted or are in the process of adopting.

Foster families who visit the closet often leave $300 to $400 worth of clothing, personal-care items and school supplies “just to get the kids situated again,” Austin said.

The new and like-new items are available at no charge.

Since Austin opened the Oakland County Foster Closet, more than 900 children have been served, 600 of them in 2015, she said, adding says she’s on track to help 800 children this year.

The $2,000 fundraising goal is enough to “get us started,” but ongoing rent payments must be met, too, Austin said. Any money raised beyond the goal will be used to offset rent payments.

Ideally, a church or property owner with an empty storefront will step forward so the Foster Closet can operate from one location, rather than at inconvenient scattered locations.

“I just know the community is going to rally,” Austin said. “They always have.”

Stepping in Where the State Leaves Off

The Oakland County branch is one of 17 across the state operated by Foster Closet of Michigan. The closets are stocked with new and like-new donated clothing, underclothing, toys , shoes, baby equipment, gear and in some cases furniture to help children placed in the foster care system in Michigan.

According to the organization’s website, providing children with stylish new or like-new clothing and personal items helps them begin the process of rebuilding their self-esteem and providing them with belongings they can call their own. Foster parents and their children are able to make wardrobe choices that express their personal tastes and individuality, another big step in helping these children rebuild their lives and self-esteem.

The organization also helps reduce the financial strain a new placement can place on a foster family by freeing up funds that would otherwise be used to fulfill these immediate needs. These needs are not always met immediately or in full by the state and that is where the Foster Closet organization steps in.

Meeting these needs allow foster parents to use the money they've saved to help the children adapt to their new home life in other ways.

Foster Closet of Michigan and its branches are completely volunteered based, and there are no paid employees. Any monetary donations go directly back into the organization to assist in growing it.

If you'd like to give, click the link below.