What began as a simple feeling of wanting to help others, is making a meaningful impact on students in need. The Caring Closet, a nonprofit organization, provides food, clothing, and essential items to ensure students feel and perform their best in school. Founded with the goal of "filling the gap," Charlotte Dunn and her sister Natalie Dunn, began the Caring Closet.
A Mission Born from Experience
The inspiration behind Caring Closet stems from a deep-rooted understanding of hardship. Dunn recalls her grandmother’s experience growing up as one of 17 children in a one-room cabin in West Virginia. This background instilled a sense of duty to help those facing similar challenges.
The need became evident in 2020 when a significant influx of students at Suwannee Middle School (SMS) required clothing. Recognizing the urgency, Charlotte and her sister initiated donation drives at SMS and Suwannee High School (SHS), laying the foundation for what would become the Caring Closet. Dunn says, "My sister and I tried to place together donations and things for students who needed it, and that is how it began."
Building a Community Resource
Launching a nonprofit came with challenges, the most significant being spreading awareness. High school and middle school students often struggle with fitting in and other social pressures, so it was a priority for the Dunn sisters to ensure that those in need felt comfortable seeking help. Flyers in both English and Spanish were distributed across campuses to promote the initiative. "High school and middle school is hard enough," Dunn says, "no student wants to feel like they are different, and they all want to fit in."
With the help of her parents, the sisters navigated the paperwork required to register the nonprofit. Once the two month registration process was completed, the organization has steadily grown, gaining support from the community.
How the Caring Closet Operates
The Caring Closet accepts donations primarily through SHS and the local Live Oak Dairy Queen.
Donations include:
Everyday school attire - ensuring adherence to Suwannee County School District (SCSD) dress code
Hygiene products
Coats
Clothes in a wide variety of sizes
Shoes
Business attire
Sportswear
Prom dresses
Items that don’t meet the SCSD dress code are donated to other local organizations, including the Sheriff's Ranches thrift store and local churches.
The food pantry at SMS is another essential service, allowing students to discreetly take as much as they need. Hygiene products, laundry detergent, and other necessities are also available. In total, Charlotte estimates that 50-70 students have benefited directly from these efforts.
Breaking Barriers with Discretion
One of the biggest challenges is ensuring students feel comfortable seeking help. Charlotte acknowledges that high schoolers, in particular, are hesitant to acknowledge their needs. To maintain privacy, the Caring Closet operates discreetly. Students can visit during school hours or request items via email, which are then made available for pickup at the front office.
Charlotte measures success not just by numbers but by the small victories: “I love finding hangers with no clothes on them because that means someone is using them.”
Community Engagement and Future Goals
The Caring Closet thrives, thanks to the dedication of volunteers such as Leigh and Rhonda Wood, Kim Davis, Lesley Fry, and Lucy Kate Roberts. Fry, who serves as the District 1 School Board Member for the Suwannee County School District, shared, "I got involved with the Caring Closest because God gave me a passion and purpose to make all children feel like they belong and that someone cares about them. Sometimes as adults we forget the social pressures in school geared towards attire, especially for socially awkward, less fortunate, and shy students. This population of students already fights battles not related to clothes, so this eases that barrier a bit."
Continued growth requires additional support. Donations of hygiene products, laundry detergent, and club dues sponsorships can make a significant difference.
Exciting upcoming initiatives include:
A catalog system to allow students to browse available clothing remotely
A food pantry expansion to SHS
Prom assistance, including providing tickets, dresses, and coordinating hair and makeup services
Partnering with local organizations to cover club dues, ensuring financial barriers don’t prevent student involvement in extracurricular activities
As Charlotte prepares for graduation, she envisions the Caring Closet continuing with a new group of underclassmen leading the charge. “I’ll help however I can, but I want the next group of students to carry this on.”
Community Involvement and How You Can Help
The Caring Closet relies on community support to continue its mission. Whether through volunteering, donating clothing and hygiene products, or contributing to club dues sponsorships, every effort counts.
For students looking to give back, volunteering with the Caring Closet also counts toward service hours, reinforcing the cycle of support within the community.
Through compassion, dedication, and collective effort, the Caring Closet continues to ‘fill the gap’ for Suwannee County students, ensuring that every child has access to the essentials they need to thrive, just like Dunn hoped when she and her sister began this endeavor in 2020.
For those who are wanting to know more information about the Caring Closet, please email caringcloset01@gmail.com.