About Us
Who We Are & What We Do
Our organization provides new/gently used, current styled clothing, undies/diapers, and toiletries for children for licensed foster parents, those participating in the Safe Families program, & children in crisis when identified by law enforcement, school administrators, medical staff, social workers or clergy in Southern Illinois.
These items are new and “like new” items that have been donated to us. Children are often placed into foster care with no personal items and in many cases, they come into care with only the clothes on their backs.Â
Our organization also helps reduce the financial strain a new placement can have on a foster family by freeing up funds that would otherwise be used to fulfill these immediate needs. These needs are not always met immediately and this is where we step in.
Our foster closet is stocked and maintained completely by volunteers. We do not have any paid employees. Any monetary donations go directly back into the organization to assist in growing it.
We accept gently used clothing items as donations at specific times. Â With a core value of restoring dignity to foster children, we only accept items that are in top condition.
All these items are donated by the community; however, the Foster Closet is very particular about the donations they accept because they want the children who receive them to feel valued and dignified. We also do not want to waste precious volunteer time laundering or disposing of unusable items.Â
We welcome diapers and wipes, toiletries (brand name baby wash, lotions, kid shampoo, toothbrushes/toothpaste) new and gently used (no stains, rips or tears, and only current styles, please) infant, children, and teen clothing.
Please check our urgent needs on our Facebook page to see what we are in need of.
Please contact us to arrange an appointment to drop off donated items.
A Word About Donations
If you wouldn’t feel good immediately dressing a child you love in it, please do not include it in your donation.
Our Story
Founded in 2014 by Chris and Julie Tracy, Equipping the Called Foster closet, a ministry in Troy, Illinois, began a work to care for children in their times of need. Chris and Julie Tracy became aware of the great need of support by foster and adoptive families when they became parents of three adopted children in 2011, 2012, and 2015.
Our Mission
​It is the mission, duty and purpose of Equipping the Called to provide aid, comfort and relief to children in crisis, which includes, but is not limited to; drug endangered children and those placed into foster care. It is our goal to provide the most basic of necessities; such as clothing, toiletries and other personal care items to children who have become displaced or dislodged from their home.