Angels Closet Charities

The needs of teenage students frequently go unnoticed in the community as kids this age are private and tend not to discuss family economic problems with their peers. They try to blend in as best they can. Because of this, they are often the forgotten ones when it comes to receiving some much-needed assistance.

Noticing this problem in the community, Redlands resident Pat Williams determined to make a change. In 2008 Pat began collecting some gently used clothing and then turned around and donated the items to the students in need. The more kids she helped, the more she found who needed help and this made her even more determined to make a difference in these kids' lives.

By February 2009, Pat’s clothing collection had outgrown her living room, and she gratefully acquired space on the campus of Redlands East Valley High School - two clothes-and-accessories-packed rooms that serve as private boutiques for students needing assistance. To serve the students better, non-profit status was approved in 2011. In 2013 the middle school room was added at the same site, making it three private boutiques for students in need. Referrals to the closet are made by the high school or middle school counselor and include students from Redlands, San Bernardino and surrounding areas.

Today, Angels' Closet Charities collects and distributes new and gently used school clothes, formal attire, business attire, graduation caps and gowns, accessories and toiletries. We also work with social services including foster care services and local homeless shelters.

Angels' Closet relies solely upon the generosity of individuals and businesses within the community for clothing and monetary donations. Without the community, we wouldn't be here or be able to help these students -- more than 2,000 to date.