HAMBURG, N.Y. (WKBW) — The WNY Foster Closet has found a new home inside the McKinley Mall after being pushed out of Eastern Hills Mall.
Its founder, Cheryl Flick, was surrounded by longtime supporters and state representatives for Tuesday’s big ribbon cutting.
A foster parent who’s a longtime client told 7 News reporter Yoselin Person she depends on the foster closet immensely.
“I’ve been coming here for four and a half years. I’ve adopted my two boys now, and I help out as much as I can, but it was so helpful when I was fostering,” said foster parent Abby Fritz. “And we had multiple placements over a six-month period to be able to utilize the Foster Closet. They do so much for the community.”
One of the board members of the organization said at first, the team was in panic mode since they didn’t have an immediate place to relocate.
This comes after they said they were kicked out of Eastern Hills Mall earlier this year.
But they said moving to McKinley Mall turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
“We’re a little bit more accessible, especially to the people in the inner city and the grandmas who are taking the children in that may not have a car since we’re right on the bus route,” said Brittney Maeder, a board member of WNY Foster Closet.
The store has clothes for premature babies through teens, all free of charge for foster families.
“We pride ourselves on everything the child gets when they get reunified to go home they take these items with them so these items stay with that child,” Maeder said.
The organization depends heavily on the community’s donations to keep up with the demand and their bills.
“We don’t get state funding. We don’t get funding from the agencies,” said Maeder. “West Herr has been an integral part of our donations.”
Others are encouraging you to stand by what Western New York is known for: being a good neighbor.
“If you have good toys bring it to the McKinley Mall here at the WNY Foster Closet,” said foster parent Ronald Toczek. “Goodwill is a great organization, but you’re helping out not just the families that are fostering, but helping the child that’s in need. Because once they get the clothes, that's theirs forever.”
Click here if you’d like to donate and learn more about WNY Foster Closet.
