WNY Foster Closet serves kids who need it most

She took in her two grandchildren, then ages 3 and 5, that night, and family members grabbed some belongings for them, but Diane couldn’t bring herself to ever go back to her daughter’s apartment.

“I couldn’t think past what I was trying to deal with,” she says. “I didn’t even want their toys. I said, ‘Please just leave everything there,’ because it was just so painful.”

Six months later, she began to emerge from the fog of loss, and a fellow foster parent pointed her in the direction of WNY Foster Closet.

Cheryl Flick founded the organization in 2018 with the goal of helping parents just like Diane.

It offers new or very gently used clothing, gear and supplies free of charge for children who have been removed from their home through the court system to live in foster care or with family members.

Their guardians and the kids can shop at its location in the McKinley Mall four times a year, plus access additional support at key times like Christmas, birthdays and back-to-school season.

The goal isn't only the clothes themselves—it's to offer them in a clean, welcoming and dignified retail-like environment, including private teen shopping areas and dressing rooms.

The idea was inspired by Cheryl’s own nine years as a foster parent, during which she and her husband brought 15 children into their home. Foster parents are responsible for clothing the children in their care, and the costs—often at no or very little notice—can add up quickly.

“All of them came with barely anything, or what they did come with was unwearable,” she says of her foster children. “I wasn’t gonna send kids to school with clothes that didn’t fit or clothes that were outdated by years and years. It just wasn’t fair to them.”

As word spreads, the number of families the organization helps continues to grow. In 2023, nearly 300 families shopped at WNY Foster Closet. Cheryl and four dedicated volunteers staff the store, which serves newborns through teenagers and stocks sizes from preemie to adult XXXL.

“It’s become a full-time, unpaid position,” she jokes. “But it’s so valuable for the community.”

As for Diane, she found more than clothes for her grandchildren at WNY Foster Closet. She also found support and friendship.

“It’s made a big difference in our life as to what we can and can’t afford for the kids,” she says. “It’s just been such a tremendous help to us.”

From her first visit, Diane was struck by the staff’s warmth and generosity.

“I felt like, wow, look at this kindness. It’s coming from these people that don’t even know me ... it was almost overwhelming to feel that kindness.”

How to help

WNY Foster Closet is completely fueled by volunteers and donations. It is currently on a hold for donations of clothes thanks to the community’s recent generosity, but here are some other ways to contribute:

Sneakers & hygiene items: These necessities can be expensive, and kids outgrow and go through them quickly.

New sports gear: Basketballs, soccer balls, footballs, you name it—the staff wants to make sure that as the weather warms up, kids have lots of options to keep them happy, active and engaged outside.

Time: Anyone with a few hours to spare is welcome to spend them with Cheryl and her team of volunteers sorting and managing donations.

Money: Cash donations are key to helping WNY Foster Closet keep the shelves stocked, lights on and doors open.

Donate via wnyfostercloset.com or visit GoFundMe to help its campaign for a permanent home.