For those in need, Carol’s Closet is trying to help meet those needs


Kids helping kids, through Carol’s Closet ... Earlier this summer, the school age children at Sue’s Daycare in Waukon hosted a cupcake and lemonade stand (pictured above) outside the daycare owned and operated by Sue Guyer. Although the overall intention was to just have fun, the youngsters ended up raising $137, so the kids decided they would use the money to give back to the community. The following week the daycare went to Dollar General in Waukon and bought packs of diapers to donate to Carol’s Closet (pictured below) for those in need. Located on Spring Avenue in downtown Waukon, Carol’s Closet is a place to donate new or gently used kids items for newborns to size 16 to be used by anyone in the community that needs a helping hand. Submitted photos.

by David M. Johnson

During the height of the pandemic the public began to experience shortages in items necessary for day-to-day living, and in goods and services available but seemingly out of reach. Communities, private parties, local, state and the federal government tried to fill the void when retail outlets could not respond to the demands to the public’s wants and needs.

This scenario amplified the importance of charities and the many non-profit organizations that already existed in the public domain. At the local level, the non-profit seemed to be better equipped to fill the void that national organizations and the government could not. One such local entity that has that special niche that meets the needs of those who may be a little short on cash due to some unfortunate reason or another is Carol’s Closet.

Karen Fay Ehde of Harpers Ferry was involved with the original Carol’s Closet location in Strawberry Point, working with that organization about two years. For seven years the Strawberry Point location had been a busy and resourceful refuge for families and individuals, offering clothing and other items that were donated. Families had a place to go and pick up those items that they could not afford on their strapped finances. For families that lacked transportation, their choices would be delivered to their homes.

Carol’s Closet concentrated on families in need, veterans and senior citizens.  Ehde witnessed the success in Strawberry Point and believed that it could be replicated in the Waukon community.

“My personal goal is to get like-minded members in our community to see this as a worthy and needed project,” hoped Ehde, and she continued by emphasizing that, “This is to be a community thing not a ‘Me Thing’!”

From her sharing time and effort in this endeavor, she sees the constant struggle of families and individuals just trying to make ends meet and trying to get by each day. She feels this is a community and neighborhood helping hand to others that might be short on the necessities required to make their lives livable. Carol’s Closet is not a retail store, but Ehde envisions it as an outlet that services the general public without the charges on the merchandise.

For the Carol’s Closet in Waukon, Ehde envisions support for local families, veterans and seniors. Initially, the Waukon location will take donations of infant clothing size 0 to size 16 kids, infant accessories such as narrow-railed cribs, and toys. Hopefully, the donations expand to where adults can patronize this charity along with the kids of the many families that are visiting.

So far, since March 1 of this year, 150 families have been helped in the community. As has been pointed out, these are moms and dads and their children, grandparents, foster parents, adoptive parents, and any local individuals who wish to share in choosing the donations that have been dropped off.

For Ehde, this has been a shared effort by friends and family to get the Waukon Carol’s Closet off the ground and running. In 2019, Ehde and her daughter, Rebekah, were gathering and collecting clothes donations to build an inventory but needed a building to house the donations. A friend, Rachel Curtin, offered office space at 28 Spring Avenue, assisting in cementing a dream into its current reality.

Also in March of this year, Ehde’s niece from Virginia, Tiffany Wilson, immediately jumped into the fray and began to assist in organizing things. She constructed a Facebook page for Carol’s Closet. This attracted a large following and encouraged an interest, especially in increased donations.

With the traffic pouring in to pick up donations, the Waukon location needs donations to replenish the outgoing materials and clothing. The shop would like to see more volunteers to sort through the donated clothing, opening the shop, helping with fundraisers, and dropping items off to families without transportation. One idea to encourage volunteers, directing attention to both high school and college-age students, is to consider this resource to obtain volunteer hours necessary for activities like Confirmation, college applications, etc.

Carol’s Closet is a recognized Internal Revenue Service (IRS) 501(c) (3) charity, so any and all donations are tax deductible. All cash donations are welcome but Carol’s Closet generally has thus far been accepting donations such as children items. Donated items accepted include clothing in newborn to teen sizes - including boots and shoes, coats and hats; cribs and playpens; and nursery needs and accessories that include diapers, wipes and pull-ups, plus changing tables, training potties, baby blankets and crib sheets. Other items that are in demand are strollers, car seats that are not outdated, booster seats, bouncy seats, activity centers and toys.

There are plans in place to also accept and distribute an assortment of donated items that meet the needs of the elderly and disabled, including canes, walkers, wheelchairs, etc., helping to meet another of the Carol’s Closet objectives, to serve veterans and seniors. With this objective and the concerns for local families, the scope of helping those in need is broadening to serve a much larger segment of the community.

The encouraging response to the Waukon Carol’s Closet has exposed a need for volunteer help and monetary assistance to help cover expenses, to pay the electric bill and heating bill, and for increased inventory in the shop. There is no charge to shop in the establishment, so expenses will have to be addressed. Fundraisers are planned to cover purchasing cribs, car seats, and expansion into assisting area veterans and senior citizens.

Ehde had a dream, and a plan to make that dream a reality. Carol’s Closet is up and running at its 28 Spring Avenue location in Waukon, open Mondays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Thursdays and Fridays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The organization can also be contacted by Facebook message or by calling 563-608-9649. As a volunteer list increases, there will be an increase in open shop hours as well.

The number of people helping, a shop with posted shopping hours and families showing up to take advantage of items in the shop confirms that Ehde’s dream has come to fruition. And this is one dream that has become a win-win for many.