Today we’d like to introduce you to Keely Brown & Lindsey Wing. They and their team shared their story with us below:
Founders Keely Brown and Lindsey Wing started up the 501(c)(3) nonprofit Colorful Closets (www.colorfulclosetsama.org) in the summer of 2016 as co-founders and co-executive directors. Having children of their own enrolled in the public school system, it was hard to turn a blind eye to the need for clothing within their own children’s classrooms and schools.
Determined to find out what people do in the position of hardship, both Brown & Wing set out to develop a clothing closet… restoring dignity and hope for students in need.
After doing local research, the girls learned that out of 32,000 students enrolled in Amarillo ISD schools, 22,000 of those students were considered needy or in need of additional resources to help make ends meet. The concern became, if a student does not have a safety net or a healthy support system to fall back on, what do they do?
This concern is what opened the hearts of both Brown & Wing to see the serious need within their community.
Little boys from refugee homes showing up in super tight jeans, 3 inches too short.
Single-parent homes who struggle just to make ends meet.
Grandparents raising grandchildren.
Families forced to start completely over due to a devastating fire.
Domestic abuse situations.
Foster families.
Homelessness.
The list goes on…
These are the stories which propelled both Brown & Wing forward, realizing their God-given purpose. To repurpose clothing for a purpose, with solid intentions to rebuild hope and dignity.
Colorful Closets’ mission is to collect, organize, and distribute tenderly used and new clothing to children in need with the hopes of spreading the love of Jesus Christ.
All clothing is donated from the community, sorted through, then repurposed as mini capsule wardrobes.
Each student they serve receives a capsule wardrobe consisting of 10 tops, 5 bottoms, 5 pair of brand-new socks and underwear, topped off with full-size toiletries, packaged in a reusable garment bag.
Brown & Wing like to refer to these capsule wardrobes as a “hug in a bag”.
The first year Colorful Cosets served students, they clothed on average 8 students per week, which was right about 300 students clothed that first school year, August to May. The Closet is now clothing up to 15 kids a day in its busiest seasons. This current school year, Colorful Closets has clothed just shy of 900 students since August 2023.
The following link is a testimonial from a student Colorful Closets has clothed, as well as information about Colorful Closets
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqSO48uGZj4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1Xqkd_fvWU
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has been interesting to learn the different perspectives of those in need. A common opinion of those less fortunate is that if they have nothing, they should accept anything. This is how Colorful Closets sets itself apart; we set the bar high for the students we clothe.
We have set out to defy this thought process.
We believe if you feel good you do good. This goes for any and everybody. We are better than no one.
Each student clothed through The Closet is clothed in stylish, comfortable clothing for the school day.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.colorfulclosetsama.org
- Instagram: @colorfulclosetsama
- Facebook: @colorfulclosetsama
- Youtube: https://youtu.be/f1Xqkd_fvWU
Image Credits
Keely Brown
Lindsey Wing
All clothing items are outsourced to a local laundromat prior to clothing being delivered to students in order to guarantee a fresh, clean and ready to wear, quality wardrobe.
