thrift shop, which resells donations of gently used clothing, home decor, kitchen wares, and more. The store is open to the public on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.
With no paid staff, the shop relies on the dedication and availability of volunteers. That allows the organization to funnel every dollar of the store’ s net income back to Brown County nonprofits and pre-screened individuals in need.
Sometimes residents need help paying rent; others are welcomed into the store to select clothing and household essentials for free.
The Community Closet provided support to one Brown County man in the fall of 2022 when he said he felt like he was on the verge of losing everything.
The 12-year Brown County resident, recommended for this interview by the Community Closet’ s board members but who asked to remain anonymous, said he was working as a federal defense contractor in May 2022 when an on-the-job injury left him in need of knee replacement to return to work. Stuck between surgery delays and the end of his workman’ s compensation, the man said he sold everything he could but feared losing the home where he lives with his wife, son, and three grandchildren. The Community Closet stepped in to help with rent and a truck payment.
“ I had so much pressure on me, and when somebody says they’ re going to help it’ s just such a relief. We’ re blessed to be in a community that cares about other people,” he said. Now nearly healed from his end-of-November knee replacement, the grateful community member said he has applied for a reserve officer position with the Nashville Police Department and hopes to give back to the community that helped during his time of need.
The Community Closet gave out more assistance in 2022 than any other year in its history: $ 25,000.
Susanne Brinkley, the nonprofit’ s board secretary, said the group is committed to increasing its giving in years to come.
To make that happen, the store needs more volunteers to work 3.5-hour shifts, which would allow the Community Closet to add days the store is open, she said.
Snyder said the nonprofit also must increase its visibility in the community.“ A lot of Brown County residents don’ t even know we’ re here,” she said, noting the store has begun increasing its local marketing and launched a newsletter with coupons that customers can sign up for inside the store.
But the nonprofit’ s biggest hurdle will be finding a new location with more square footage,
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