Collinsville, IL (KMOX) - "Some of these children haven't had a choice about anything in their lives," says Julie Tracy, Co-Founder of Equipping the Called Foster and Crisis Closet. That's why Tracy and her team of volunteers doesn't just sort and catalog the donations they receive, they style them to look and feel like a boutique so that foster children feel special. Now they need more manpower to keep up with demand.
Tracy and her husband, a retired Illinois State Police Lieutenant, launched the charity in 2014 after adopting several special needs children from China. As they were introduced to the world of fostering and adopting, they learned how children could be placed in foster homes with nothing but the clothes on their backs -- sometimes just a diaper. Many times those foster families had very little time to prepare.
Equipping the Called first launched with infant baskets for foster families, but over nearly a decade in operation, demand for clothing and other essentials has steadily grown. They started in the dining room of their house, then spread to a storage unit, then worked out of storage tubs in their garage, then an office space. Now their newest location in Collinsville has multiple rooms, set up like a retail shop for ages from infants to teens. "Sometimes foster families are just given what they're given. And I thought, why not have a place where a child can have a say in what they select. It's very empowering to be able to come and choose your own things that belong to you," points out Tracy.
Tracy says she didn't want it to feel like it was "second best". So she's very selective about the used clothing she offers. Especially for teens, it has to be a style they would want to wear. Plus as much as possible, she tries to throw in a few extras like hair styling tools, make-up, and other products.
Children are allowed to select up to 5 outfits, shoes, as well as jackets and winter coats in season. The non-profit also provides new underwear and socks. The basement is stocked with multiple sizes of diapers.
Tracy says demand has increased, especially since COVID, likely due to circumstances surrounding the pandemic. She also says their new location has made it easier for more foster families to access what they provide.
Because of that demand, they're putting out a call not only for donations and supplies, but especially for volunteers. She says they need help sorting and stocking on a weekly basis. If you're interested you can find more information at their website https://equippingthecalled.org/
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