Success Story - Country Closet gives back to the Community

Country Closet gives back to the Community

Major Program: Build Engaged and Empowered Communities – General

Plan of Work: Empower Community Leaders

Outcome: Long-Term Outcome

In Bracken County for the past 2 years the FCS Agent has partnered with the local Senior Citizen Center and their thrift store known as the Country Closet to help tackle the re-opening of the store. While the first year in the project was spent in the cleaning out and reorganizing the project in order to get the store opened back up. That was successful and the store opened back up in December 2021. The store is well known in the county as everything is just .25 cents and is a great place to donate locally. The store is ran by volunteers who are mainly senior citizens themselves and everything in the store is donated. Over the past year the store has helped out many community organizations. Below are the impact of the Country Closet:

Animal Shelter/donated Dog houses, Dog Cages, Leashes, Towels, and Blankets
Nursing Home/provided formal dresses for their “Senior Prom”
Special Ed Classes/provided an opportunity for life skills by helping at store
Family/provide a much needed stove for a family
Senior Citizens/provided them with air conditioners, heaters, fans, wheelchairs, walkers
Community/offer free coats and books to community members
FRYSC/provide clothes to FRYSC for students in schools
Fire Victims/gave victims things for their houses
21^st Century Students/gave them a financial lesson
Kids in Foster Care/provided clothes and duffel bags
Health Department/provide books for patients
Ambulance and Police/provided stuffed animals for children
Mountain Mission/donate items
Eastern Ky Flood Victims/provide Christmas Decorations
Art and Music Classes/Supply them with Art supplies and instruments
Senior Citizens/Bingo Prizes and money for trips and crafts

Overall the impact has been phenomenal and many opportunities still present themselves. With the start of the store’s Facebook page, the word has gotten out about the store to surrounding counties and states. This project is ongoing with the help of the FCS Agent, homemakers, volunteers, and the Senior Citizens.