The Closet

Volunteer Opportunity July 23rd at The Closet

Please see details about volunteering for The Closet on the attached flyer, to volunteer on Thursday, July 23 from 8:30 -10:30 a.m. - before the store opens to the public.

Note that all who attend will have their temperature taken when they come through the door and masks are required attire.

This is also a reminder that Donation Hours have changed to 8:00-noon Monday through Friday.

The Closet is a faith-based volunteer-driven organization impacting lives through its nonprofit thrift shop

845 Station Street/PO Box 42 703.437.7652

Herndon, VA 20172-0042 theclosetinc@verizon.net _____________________________________________________________________

MEMORANDUM

To: Board of Directors

From: Gene Wiley, President

Re: Actions Taken at Special Executive Committee

Date: April 29, 2020

_____________________________________________________________________

This morning the Executive Committee held a special meeting via Zoom to discuss the status of The Closet. The following was decided and discussed:

1. The Closet will remain closed until May 31, 2020. The Closet will continue to pay wages and benefits to all full- and part-time employees durinng this time.

2. On Monday, at long last, construction began on the Rear Addition. This construction will take approximately 3-4 weeks to complete.

3. The Executive Committee (EC) authorized execution of contracts for the following work to be done during May while the store is closed:

· replace the floor and paint the walls and ceilings in the Clothing Sorting Room and the Linen-Toy Processing Room;

· replace the existing sink with a new commercial sink, counter top, and cabinet;

· install an air purification system in the HVAC system to improve the quality of the air circulating throughout The Closet.

4. The EC discussed social distancing measures that could be taken prior to reopening the store. A list of practical measures implemented will be drawn up and posted prior to reopening on our website and publicized to assure the public that The Closet is doing everything reasonably possible to make donating and shopping at The Closet safe and enjoyable.

5. The Executive Committee meeting scheduled for May 8 was cancelled. The EC will meet via Zoom towards the end of May at a date to be determined to discuss the status of The Closet and take up any necessary business.

Please continue to stay safe and well. May God bless you all.

News from The Closet, August 2019

Grants, etc.: The Closet is happy to announce that it put aside $30,000 for the 2020 Scholarship fund. It also donated more than $32,000 in grants to the following nonprofit organizations:

• • All Ages Read Together –to provide free preschool to children who either do not qualify for Head Start or are on the waitlist for Head Start or cannot afford to pay for preschool.

  • Family Pass - to provide bedding and cribs as needed to help homeless working families get back into housing and on their feet.

  • Herndon-Reston FISH - provides emergency financial assistance to residents of Herndon & Reston in short term crises, a service called “Friendly Instant Sympathetic Help” (FISH).

  • Herndon Senior Center Council, Inc. – to provide an “Awareness through Movement” exercise classes for a year. Many of the participants fall below the 200% poverty scale and would not be able to afford the classes offered.

  • Herndon Village Network – provides transportation options to senior citizens, living in the 20170 zip code, who are not driving.

  • Just Neighbors – to provide humanitarian-based legal immigration services in the Herndon area.

  • Shelter House – provides crisis intervention, safe housing, and support services to homeless families and domestic abuse victims.

  • Stroke Comeback Center – to support programs to improve communication, mobility, cognition, emotional, and social functions to low-income survivors of stroke and brain trauma.

Volunteer Appreciation Sale: The Sale and Reception for our many Closet volunteers will be on Sunday, September 8, from 1-4 p.m. at The Closet (please use one of the back doors.) Items will be on sale, up to 80 percent off. Closet volunteers are invited to enjoy some relaxed shopping time, yummy refreshments and great deals!

Changeover: We will NOT be closing the store for changeover this fall. Instead, we will begin moving winter merchandise to the sales floor as the summer clothing inventory is reduced by heavy discounts. Donations will be accepted as usual Monday-Saturday 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. The Closet needs additional volunteers during August and September from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. to transform the store during this “rolling changeover.” Your help will be much appreciated. Duties may include assisting in the store, restocking throughout the day, and the usual behind the scenes labeling, pricing, hanging, etc. Please check-in with Store Manager Pat Rhoads when you arrive at The Closet. She can assign you to one of the tasks that needs to be accomplished for a successful “rolling changeover.”

NorthWest Federal Credit Union Volunteers: The NorthWest Federal Credit Union is now partnering with The Closet and is providing volunteers at The Closet on a recurring basis. If you work for a business or organization that encourages volunteering in the community, please let them know about opportunities at The Closet.

Recruiting personnel and volunteers

February 19, 2019: The Closet of Greater Herndon/Reston is looking for people to help with various tasks:

1. A person with strong people skills to interact with about 500 volunteers and obtain human interest stories from customers, volunteers, and staff. This would be a part-time, paid position. The hope is to highlight the impact The Closet has on the community by telling various personal stories (without using real names). If you are interested in the job, let your congregation’s representative (Jane Anthony or Joyce Parkin) or The Closet manager know.

2. Volunteers who (for most weeks) can work sometime between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. for 2 to 4 hours per week to check for damages and mark prices for hard goods (glassware, kitchenware, knickknacks, china, etc.). The Closet will provide training to volunteers. If you are interested, let your congregation’s representative or The Closet manager know. Join the volunteers at The Closet - meet new friends and find great bargains!

3. Volunteers to join The Closet’s Real Property Advisory Committee. Space is an issue for everyone who is working “in the back” and The Closet wants to look into turning the Station Street location into a store with very little storage, and use another location (hopefully nearby) for donations and donation processing sometime in the future (1-5 years). If you are interested in serving on this committee, let your congregation’s representative know. The committee is charged with:

   • Scouting the Town of Herndon for real property that can leased or purchased.

   • Developing relationships with individuals who may be able to assist The Closet in finding and acquiring available real property.

   • Preparing cost/benefit analyses for the lease or purchase of certain real properties.