Jose's Closet

Our Resource Center provides foster, kinship, and adoptive families with clothing, gear, and lots more to help ease the financial burden of raising these special children. We provide gently used, donated items to families. Families are able to come to Jose's Closet to receive needed items for each child in their home. Raising kids is expensive, and we try to support those who are raising children not originally their own.

Jose's Closet was founded by Wendy Esquibel in memory of a beloved foster son, Jose. Jose passed away after fighting leukemia, but one of his concerns at the end of his short life was "who will remember me?" Wendy vowed to keep Jose's memory alive by helping other foster families. As a foster parent, she recognized the challenge of welcoming a child into your home with only the clothes they are wearing. She offered to keep outgrown clothing of her kids - and those of friends - in a closet at her home, so that other foster families could just call and ask for the size they needed. That closet grew into a garage, then a storage unit, and has kept growing into our current location, spread out over 10 classrooms in a former elementary school.

We serve foster and adoptive families by providing gently used clothing, shoes, books, baby gear, sports equipment. We offer special giveaways during the year, including school supplies, holiday gifts, bicycles, and more. We also operate a modest food pantry for our member families, and offer diapers, wipes, and formula.

Testimonials

"Jose's Closet is my favorite! I have been to different organizations that help foster families and I can honestly say that Jose's closet is best for my needs. We are a family of 8 and ages can change at any time. I love that I don't have to keep a wardrobe of every size of clothing on hand for new kids. I don't have to request clothes on FB and run all over the valley to get them. Jose's Closet has everything at one convenient location.
When we get a new placement we can go in and get whatever is needed for that child. One of our 8-year-old foster kids came weighing 150 lbs and went down to 95 lbs in a year. At Jose's Closet I could continue to update her wardrobe as she lost weight.
I love that they still love their adoptive families. I don't have to worry that if I adopt the kids that I can no longer go and have to start paying more for clothing after adoption like I do at other places. I enjoy going in and volunteering when I can. It helps me feel like I am giving back when I have so many needs. The food is very helpful with lots of mouths to feed. Paper products are also very helpful!
I love Jose's Closet. They feel like a extended foster family that we can all help each other as we go along at different stages in our adventure."
- Foster Mom Helena
household of 8 and counting"

Jose's Closet has not only been a blessing to my family but has given me a wonderful opportunity to know amazing women and men and see the good works they are doing every day. I was a new foster mom, completely overwhelmed, but going to Jose's Closet felt like finding a family that truly cares. It's not just about the support of clothing and items to help the kiddos, I feel it's more about the love and kindness every time you go."
- Foster Mom Melissa

"Jose's Closet is a lifesaver for large families. There tends to be help from organizations when you foster but Jose's Closet is a rare gem that helps families after adoption. Be it help with sports equipment, a wheelchair for a kid in a cast, back to school supplies or holiday gifts, Jose's Closet helps subsidize when the rest stop. I can't tell you how thankful I am to have Jose's Closet."
- Foster Mom Lisa