As foster parents going through the home study and licensing process makes us feel as if we can never be down on our luck. It makes us feel like we have to have funds set aside to immediately go out and get what children need. It makes us feel like if you aren’t prepared, you aren’t allowed to accept placement. For the children, this is awful. Not only because storing so much stuff is impossible, but because we only really prepare for the ages we were originally going to accept. For us, this was newborn to 7. We have taken older placements and absolutely adored them! Can you imagine storing enough stuff for multiple kids ages 0-18? That’s where the compassion closet has come in. I’m allowed to get what the children need, judgment-free, so they feel safe and loved. They put thought into things you don’t even think about them needing, like razors and pads, and have them readily available for the children when they are in custody. This has been the only reason we have been able to do what we’ve done! This ministry is one I wish I would have known about sooner, to tell more people about it, and help sponsor before we decided to foster. As I said, being made to feel like you aren’t allowed to be down on luck or funds is difficult to express to DCS.. and the compassion closet asks no questions. When I go in, I don’t feel bad about needing the help. That being said, I love nothing more than finding a good deal and donating tons of pajamas, socks, and underwear! I love sharing the deals with local foster families and the compassion closet being able to take advantage and stock the shelves at an affordable price, leaving the other money for other things. What I get most from the compassion closet is family. I meet friends. The love and COMPASSION I feel when I meet the people who run them, and shop at them is unlike anything I’ve ever encountered before. There have been times I’ve sat down and cried sharing our story with a stranger… yet walked away feeling like my mom or sister just hugged me. The sharing of information makes networking and finding resources easy, and getting advice from other parents often feels like group therapy when I come and go I’m extremely grateful for the compassion closet, the donors, the ones who run it, the people that help, and I love meeting the children they bring along. I love the laughs, small talks, and cries. It’s more than a closet… it’s a family. It’s a lifestyle. It’s a safe haven.

I don’t even know where to begin with expressing our gratitude for this ministry and the blessing it has been to our family as we followed the Lord’s call to foster. There is no scenario in which we could have possibly been prepared for every possibility with clothing, gear, toys, etc. for a newborn-10-year-old of an unknown gender prior to placement. As many of you know, the cost of saying yes can be astronomical, especially when you are first starting. I spent $780 at Target night one of our first placements getting everything from a car seat, diapers, a few outfits, formula, bottles, a baby monitor, etc, and that was just the beginning. We didn’t have 9 months to prepare for the newborn that would show up 3 hours after we got the call but a few days in we visited the closet for the first time and we were able to get a bouncy seat, a drying rack for his bottles, a stroller that was compatible with the car seat we had purchased, and pack n play that allowed me to have a safe place for him to be and sleep at my office until he was able to start daycare at 6 weeks, but most impactful was the volunteer who prayed with me as our little man was facing some medical issues and we had just left a heavy doctor’s appointment. Through the network that has been built by Compassion Closet among foster families in our community, we have been able to pass those items on, along with things we’ve purchased along the way, to other foster families, easing the financial burden that can come with saying yes making it possible to continue to do so. Not only that but I have found a few foster mom friends through this group who have been a lifeline for our family when the days get hard and the system that is supposed to protect some of the most vulnerable fails them time and time again because, for a second, I remember that we aren’t alone and it gives us the strength be able to push ahead. Thank you, a million times thank you, for all that you do! I know we don’t know half of what goes into keeping this ministry going but know that we thank God for you often! It takes a village and I am so grateful for this one! Big love from our family! (Officially a family of 5 after adopting our two littles, bio brothers, this past October)

First of all, we want to say thank EVERYONE at the closets that have helped us on this wonderful journey of fostering. They have been a huge blessing to our family. A shoutout to Melissa Cox our great RC! She always makes sure our needs are met. Also, a shoutout to Kristi Smith – we were at a downtime with my mom-in-law being hospitalized with cancer. (didn’t even know she was sick) Then had to have emergency surgery leaving her with some decisions that she didn’t want to have to live with the rest of her life- right after that chemo and radiation. There was a group at Kristi’s church that brought a meal to our home. We will never forget this thoughtfulness. Meant so much to us and dad. Also, all the workers and the time they put in to be able to bring back and pick up as you need. Thank you to all who have ANYTHING to do with a compassion closet. You truly are a blessing

From Day One of my foster parenting journey, we’ve been blessed by Compassion Closet and everyone that works endlessly to make its existence possible. The first placement call that I accepted came on Jan 25, 2019…the day half of Knoxville was flooded. I canceled my last home visit and headed home to meet my now adopted daughter who was then 3 months old. I sent a message that I that could use a few things and the next day went and picked up from a driveway what ended up being almost everything I could possibly need to get started… it filled up the inside of my club cab truck, minus baby space. As a single dad who had long gotten rid of baby stuff after raising a 19-year-old, that was so appreciated and unexpected. I’m not even sure who did all that, but it was amazing. Along the way, I was introduced to Kristy Smith and was excited to hear that she was going to be opening the Oak Ridge Compassion Closet location. She has become so much more to us than just the lady at Compassion Closet. If I tell her I need XYZ and she leaves it for me to pick up, I usually have tears streaming because she’s added in something unasked for but special to me like a ‘Daddy’s girl’ shirt…nothing big physically, just a thought that meant the world to me. She has listened to our story and asked sincere questions and talked through situations and prayed with us…and shown Journey God’s love in soooo many ways. She routinely asks “Let’s go to ‘Passion Closet and see Ms. Kristy. Can we Daddy? Come on.” I’m proud to call her part of our family and village. In a time of huge stress, she put in a word to Tiffany Bottoms who dropped off a huge meal that fed us for days, and a basket of puzzles, games, cookie mix, etc. So unexpected! I can’t thank each and every one of you enough for the time, effort, and spiritual energy you put into Compassion Closet.

It was October 20th when a 2-year-old little girl was placed in my arms with nothing but the clothes on her back. She was so sick, so broken, and had been neglected since she was born. I had nothing but a Yes, I will take her in and help. After getting her bathed and all fixed up we set off to the Compassion Closet for the first time and she was showered in clothes, socks, diapers, wipes, and new toys! Her eyes lit like Christmas! The Compassion Closet helped a new foster Mom give to a child who had nothing. I will forever be thankful for the Compassion Closet! Thank you!

I wanted to send a quick note and say how thankful I am that this ministry exists 💜 I had heard of Compassion Closet through my close friend and coworker, but never imagined the impact it would make. Yesterday, after being foster-approved in November, I made my first trip to the West location and was simply blown away. My 15-month-old (who came with only a little to get by) now has many outfits to choose from, shoes, new cups, extra pacis, toys, sheets, diapers, etc. The whole experience was amazing. About 5 other families were shopping and 2-to 3 volunteering, and it all ran smoothly and respectfully. Thank you to the wonderful families who make this possible!! Looking forward to eventually volunteering my own time to help

Over the past (almost) 2 years, the adoption and foster care ministry I lead at our church has been able to help several of our foster families with the many resources available at Compassion Closet. I am so thankful for the amazing women who run and serve in this ministry. Thank you for helping serve the foster care community so well!