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Date: 5/4/2023
LONGMEADOW — Families welcoming a foster child into their homes may find that the child arrives with few belongings of their own. St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Longmeadow began Lydia’s Closet to help in those circumstances by collecting new and gently used clothing for babies, children and teens in foster homes. The Richard Salter Storrs Library is running a donation drive for Lydia’s Closet throughout the month of May — National Foster Care Month.
St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church opened Lydia’s Closet in November 2021. In spring of 2022, the church received a grant from the Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts to help fund the program and let the community know about the resources it provides.
Lydia’s Closet Coordinator Lorie Dixon said that in addition to clothing and shoes in all sizes, the program also accepts “big ticket” items, such as unexpired car seats, highchairs, strollers, cribs and Pack ‘n Plays. The items are set up like a store at the church, allowing foster parents to shop for whatever they need.
To publicize the service, she said she has reached out to the state Department of Families and Children and attended classes for potential foster parents. So far, she said the program has been successful and helps about 25 families from around the area per month. The church has expanded the program to include families facing hardships due to homelessness or domestic violence.
“We’ve done only a couple donation drives,” Dixon said. A student at Williams Middle School conducted a drive throughout Longmeadow schools, resulting in 14 bags of donated clothing. Dixon said a mother’s group also collected donations for Lydia’s Closet.
“This is our first time hosting a drive for Lydia’s Closet, but we hope this will be the first time of many,” said Amanda Damon, outreach and programming librarian at Storrs Library. “We are hoping to collect at least 100 articles of clothing here at the library,” Damon said. A bin is set up in the front lobby.
Dixon said Lydia’s Closet’s shelves need more summer clothing — T-shirts, shorts, jeans, sweatshirts and bathing suits, as well as underwear and sneakers. The program is looking for clothing for all sizes and genders, especially for toddlers and youth up to size 14/16. For teenagers, Lydia’s Closet needs adult sizes small, medium and large.
Donations are always welcome and can be dropped off in a donation bin behind the church. People interested in using Lydia’s Closet can call Dixon at 413-237-1581 to schedule an appointment to shop. Dixon said scheduling a time to shop is often more convenient for foster parents, especially as foster situations can change rapidly. “I just met with a woman yesterday who had a 4-day-old infant that she had begun fostering” days before, Dixon said.
“We want to bring more awareness to our patrons that local foster families are in need of supplies, and if we here at Storrs can help spread the word, we are more than happy to do so,” Damon said.
Dixon commented, “That’s our goal, to come together and reach out and support the community as a whole.”
Donations can be dropped off at Storrs Library through May 31, or anytime in the donation bin for Lydia’s Closet behind St. Andrew’s Church, 335 Longmeadow St.