Elderly and disabled people in Sherburne County have a new resource to help them in tough times.

 

In September, the county partnered with a non-profit organization to open Granny’s Closet, which gives clothing and other items to seniors and disabled people.

Granny’s Closet opened in Anoka County in 1995.

 

“It started with a gal who wanted to give some gifts to a few people at Christmas,” says coordinator Julie Mayo. “She found out there were more than just a few people in need who didn’t have much of a Christmas at all. She got some friends to adopt these folks and get donations, and that was the birth of Granny’s Closet.”

 

Anoka County partnered with the organization and found a site to store the items. The warehouse is located on the state hospital grounds.

 

Mayo says people and businesses donate items, which are stored at the warehouse. County social workers find out who is in need, visit the warehouse and bring back items for the clients.

 

In early September, a site opened in Sherburne County, says Mayo, who retired form Sherburne County Health & Human Services Aug. 31. 

 

“We searched for a couple years, just calling on businesses to see if they had any space available,” she says. “Pat Briggs, the  owner let us use this space at no cost.”

 

The Closet is located in the rear side of the Landmark Plaza Building on Freeport Street in Elk River. It’s not a huge space, but it gives the county the opportunity to have a supply of items for Sherburne County clients.

 

“We’re just going with necessities,” says Mayo, “adult men and women’s clothing, some toiletries. A lot of the stuff still has tags on them. The main focus is to stretch peoples’ budget because a lot of these people live on $100 to $200 of spending money a month.”

 

To qualify to receive free items, people need to be either 65 or older, or have a certified disability. 

 

A social worker from the county finds out clothing sizes, then searches the Closet for appropriate items.

 

“That’s the partnership we have with the county,” says Mayo. “They identify people who are eligible.”

 

The first items were brought in from the Anoka Granny’s Closet to get the site up and running, but they have been coming in steadily ever since. So there should be a good selection for county clients in need.

 

“We get everything for free,” says Mayo, “and we give it for free.”

 

Granny’s Closet takes donations Monday evenings from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. Or Mayo can meet at a different time with anyone who can’t make those hours.

Contact her at jabmayo@aol.com, or send a message through the contact page of their website, grannyscloset.org.