The Foster Closet organization is making strides in providing for foster families in and around Central Minnesota. Two years ago, Shannon Lunser and Jennifer Jopp started up the Foster Closet as a non-profit to help parents assimilate into the foster care programs.
Recently, Jopp and Lunser got word that their organization was accepted as a 501c3 non-profit, opening the doors to fundraising and financial donation opportunities. They formed a board of directors and typically have 15-20 volunteers for each event they establish.
Lunser and Jopp collect donations or shop with monetary donations and build up a “store” where forster families can congregate to and shop for must-needs. Monday, they held their spring event at Becker City Park where foster families could walk through and shop for necessities as well as pick up Easter baskets, hygiene kits and receive a voucher to have their well water tested.
Brothers Fire & Security was also on hand to service and distribute fire extinguishers.
This past year, the Foster Closet received a $5,000 grant from Grand Casino and another $1,000 from Connexus Energy.
When Jopp and Lunser first began the company, their main mission was to provide clothing, under-clothing, toys and school supplies for at least a week’s worth of care. Their mission remains the same today, but they are expanding their purpose to provide in other areas of need.
“We’ve received lots of help and support from this caring community,” said Jennifer. “We have collection boxes at the community center and local YMCA and get volunteer help from the girl scouts and 4-H kids. We are so grateful.”
In 2017, donations from the community allowed the Foster Closet to provide clothing, pajamas, school supplies and other items to over 250 children in foster care, their website says.
Jopp and Lunser themselves are foster parents and when they first entered the program, they noticed immediately that kids placed came without much “luggage” and certainly were without some of the necessities like toothbrushes, underwear and hygiene items. Plus, they noticed many foster parents were ill-equipped when first accepting a foster child into their home. Jopp and Lunser wanted to help.
“We immediately noticed that many of the kids coming into care didn’t have much to bring with them and were in desperate need of clothes and supplies,” said Jennifer. “When children are removed from their biological families, they lose everything that is familiar to them.”
Monday, with the help of several volunteers, Jopp and Lunser assembled a make-shift production line where bags of hygiene items (toothpaste, soaps, hairbrushes, etc.), stuffed animals, cake mixes, books and baskets were gathered. For an hour-and-a-half, the doors were open for foster family guests to fill their arms with whatever they were in need of.
The volunteers were Eliza, Abby, Laurel, Emma, Donna, Jodi and Chris.
The Foster Closet operates entirely on donations and relies on volunteers. Their hope through The Foster Closet is that children and foster families will be empowered, encouraged and strengthened. Check out their website at www.thefostercloset.org to help by donating money, clothing or ones time.
They can also be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thefosterclosetinc.
“We can’t say enough about the support we’ve received from caring communities in the surrounding county,” said Lunser. “It’s a lot of work but with everyone’s help, we can keep this going and provide foster parents and children with their everyday needs.”
Thanks from the Foster Closet organization goes out to Brothers Fire & Security for servicing fire extinguishers, Cologne Academy for the hygiene bags, the Compassion Connection for providing Easter baskets, Simon Says Give for the cake mixes and frosting, and Crisis Nursery serving Wright County for the new baby kits.
“Last but not least, thank you to our team of volunteers for your help with tonight’s event,” said Jennifer.
