A nonprofit organization in downtown Herndon is celebrating 50 years of giving back to the community.
The Closet of the Greater Herndon Area, a faith-based nonprofit organization that distributes affordable home goods, clothing and other items, marked its 50th anniversary this month. The milestone will be formally celebrated at an invite-only event in late October.
“The Closet is a small store with a big impact on the Herndon community,” The Closet Board President Gene Wiley said. “We hope to build on what we have achieved and continue to improve the lives of those we touch well into the future.”
Founded in 1974 to help local low-income families by selling clothes at discounted prices, The Closet is now overseen by 20 participating faith congregations and run entirely by volunteers. It has distributed over $3 million worth of clothes and home goods at its thrift shop at 845 Station Street over the past five decades.
The store is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday with hours extending to 8 p.m. on Monday and Thursday. It accepts donations from 8 a.m. to noon on every day of the week except Thursday and Sunday.
The organization’s top referral agencies are Fairfax County, the Reston-based nonprofit Cornerstones and LINK Against Hunger, an all-volunteer group that provides food assistance to Herndon and Sterling residents.
In addition to running the thrift shop, The Closet supports other nonprofits in Fairfax and Loudoun counties with grants funded by its surplus revenue. Over the years, it has offered more than $3.1 million in grants to 50 different organizations, along with $800,000 in scholarships to local high school students.
“The Closet has been a place of help and hope for over 50 years,” Sean Roberts, a former pastor for the First Baptist Church of Herndon, said. “Countless times I have pointed people to The Closet who just needed a little bit of help and while they were there they found the hope they needed. It is a wonderful asset to our community.”
In recent years, The Closet has seen increased demand for its services, store manager Tempest Ware Harmon said in a statement to FFXnow.
As homelessness in the Herndon area rises, so too does the urgency for support that goes beyond just providing clothing and essentials. Our mission has expanded to include not only immediate relief but also supportive services that address the root causes of homelessness and promote long-term stability. We are committed to adapting to these changing needs by enhancing our programs and outreach efforts, ensuring that we offer comprehensive support to those who need it most.
According to a press release, The Closet has recently made some improvements to both the interior and exterior of its building “to better serve the community.”
The organization regularly hosts events, including a popular “Everything Christmas” sale during the winter holiday season. Its annual off-site toy sale, a staple since 2012, took a final bow this past July, as the team pivoted to focusing on in-store sales.
