LAKE CITY —A northern Michigan woman is giving back to the community and helping people in need by turning her shed into a community closet.
Leandra Marie from Lake City said the idea just snowballed after she decided to donate clothes to teens in foster care.
She said she understands the struggles better than most.
“Going back to my foster homes, I had started collecting my clothes back then. Even if I didn’t fit them, or if I knew that somebody else was getting rid of their clothes, I would try to keep them,” said Marie.
Marie said she grew up in the foster care system, aging out when she became an adult.
She said she had it in mind to open up a consignment shop one day but over time it evolved to just helping those in need.
“I work hard for everything that I do. I wanted to sell them, but I’m like, you’re never going to get the value back as much as it would be giving it away, you know, to somebody who’s in need,” said Marie.
Marie said she understands what it’s like to have to go without.
“I was just afraid to ask for stuff, you know, that I actually needed for toothpaste or anything like that. My family struggled. I know that people who take people into their homes like foster homes, like they still struggle,” said Marie.
She said people in the foster care system helped support her and this is a way to give back.
“When I first got my apartment, my counselor had honestly set me up. She had helped me with my bedding. She had helped me with my closet, her and her husband. They help me move in. They got me a mattress,” said Marie.
She said she is looking for any item that might help a person in need-anything from kids to adults.
it can be toiletries, clothing, jewelry, footwear, etc., as long as it’s in gently used or good condition.
“As long as, you know, we’re not just collecting junk, but yeah, so I even store out like some extras. I have a car seat. I have, you know, a steering wheel cover that I never use, even a dash thing that I never used,” said Marie.
She said she’s already gotten some donations from the community.
“I was like, ‘Oh my goodness, I’m not prepared yet’. And to immediately, like, organize the shed better so I could respond back to messages and take some more donations,” said Marie.
She said she’s even had a few people stop by already and take advantage of the community closet.
She said her reward is seeing the smiles on the faces of those she’s helped.
“I had a lot of rocky situations where it just made me stronger, you know? You grow from those things and honestly, I feel like it makes you want to give back more,” said Marie.
For more information on how to donate or take advantage of the community closet, please go to Marie’s business page for her dog grooming/salon business, please click here.