Community Closet @FranklinUMC // May (2024) Update

The last week of March and all of April was a busy time. The Community Closet @FranklinUMC saw over 110 persons shop over the four weeks we were open in April. We averaged 3 volunteers per week over the five weeks we sorted donations. Thank you to everyone who donated last month when clothing ran short. Our bins and closet rods are well stocked of adult clothing, but we continue to see a high need for children’s clothing–warm weather, newborn through 8T clothing is needed most.

In order to better accommodate shoppers, we have reorganized the shopping area–hanging more clothing and placing the bins in clearly defined areas.

The Community Closet has been reorganized with more space to hang clothing and designated areas for children's, men's and women's clothing sorted in bins.
A reorganized Community Closet provides more hanging and designated areas for bins of children’s, men’s and women’s clothing providing better access to sorted donations. Picture taken April 29, 2024.

New Hours! May Dates! and Updated Flyer.

We are changing our hours to 11a-1p so that Tri-Valley Inc. Meals on Wheels has adequate time to pack their meals and get drivers out the door and on their routes.

Moving forward we will take at least one week off per month from shopping so that volunteers have time to sort and restock bins and rods without shoppers present. To be clear, we will need volunteers to sort donations on May 14, from 11a-1p, but that is not an open shopping day.

Below is the updated flyer for May. Please post, print, email, and distribute the flyer below to let people know about the Community Closet @FranklinUMC.

All are welcome to shop at the Community Closet. We are looking to open at other limited times that coordinate with other community events hosted at FranklinUMC. Watch for the announcement of those limited openings with the posting of other community events.

SHARE

The Community Closet takes donations of gently used and new clothing, gently used shoes, and new socks and undergarments (with tags and in packaging). The most urgent needs are:

Baby Clothing (0-24 months)
Children’s Spring/Summer Clothing (2T-8T)

Donations can be dropped off inside the Main Entrance of the Franklin United Methodist Church (82 W. Central Street, Franklin, MA), Monday through Friday 8a-1p (excluding holidays) and Sundays 9:30a-11a.

SPECIAL REQUEST

We are in need of additional lighting (at least two, four foot plug-in shop lights) to brighten the Community Closet space. If you are able/interested in donating the lights, we would greatly appreciate it. Please email Pastor Jacob at [email protected].

MEET & SERVE

Volunteering is a great way to meet others (both those who are volunteering and those who are shopping). Please note: volunteers must be able to navigate stairs as the Community Closet is in the old balcony of the church. You can signup to volunteer at franklinumc.org/volunteer. Tuesday, May 14, 11a-1p, is a day to SORT ONLY. The Community Closet will not be open for shopping on Tuesday, May 14, 2024. If you would like to sign up a group to volunteer from your organization, outside the listed times, please contact Pastor Jacob at [email protected].