The Community Closet is a voucher-based system assisting low income families and individuals by providing basic essentials of clothing and household goods at no charge. This program, originally offered at the Bissell Centre Thrift Shoppe, is located in the basement of Bissell Centre’s East building. The Community Closet has proven to be very successful as service users now have their own place to ‘shop’ with dignity assisted by dedicated support staff.
Items available include:
- Seasonal clothing for men, women & children
- Footwear
- Houseware items such as cutlery, dishes, pots and pans, kitchen utensils and glassware
- Bedding and linens
All items are donated to Bissell Centre and inspected by staff. New deliveries of product are made to the Community Closet twice a week.
Individuals and families are able to access clothing and housewares up to four times per year. Service users must obtain a voucher from a Bissell Centre Intake Resource Worker or from a participating agency. More than twenty Edmonton non-profit organizations are active participants in this program.
| “Here, the concentration is strictly on the client, where that wasn’t possible at the Thrift Shoppe. We’re building relationships. More and more people are coming in with a smile and walking away a little taller.”
Community Closet Supervisor |
Donations for the Community Closet can be dropped off at Bissell Centre’s Sorting Centre:
8818 – 118 Avenue, Edmonton, AB
OR
South Side Drop-Off Location
5120 – 122 Street, Edmonton, AB
