Foster Care Closet expanding services to rural areas of Nebraska

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — A Lincoln-based organization helping kids in foster care is expanding its services in Nebraska.

Foster Care Closet offers youth in foster care five new outfits, a pair of shoes, socks, underwear and more for free. It keeps clothing on hand for anyone from birth to age 19. 

The organization has just renovated a bus to deliver clothes to more rural areas of the state. 

 The mobile closet goes as far as Scottsbluff. 

“The mobile closet is awesome because you can bring that to where the need is and serve the families who can’t get out here,” said Amanda Hayes, the Beatrice site manager.

The organization is also making it easier for families in Lincoln.

Previously, participants needed an appointment to go shopping at the Lincoln location.

Now, it will be open Tuesday mornings and Thursday evenings without appointments.

“We always try to look at how can we best serve our families, and so this was an area that we really thought we could be able to serve more of our foster youth at the convenience of the foster family,” founder Leigh Esau said.

Families that still want to shop at a more private time can make their appointments on Mondays and Wednesdays.  

Foster care families can shop up to two times a year.  

If you want to make a donation, you can visit the website. There is a list of items needed and also a link to make monetary contributions.