Carol’s Closet celebrating 10 years as an organization, Waukon location working to open again at new site following April 4 fire

In 2025, Carol’s Closet, with locations in Strawberry Point and Waukon, will be celebrating the 10-year anniversary of this organization. Carol’s Closet volunteers have enjoyed all ten years helping communities help others.

Carol’s Closet has served Allamakee, Buchanan, Clayton, Delaware, Fayette, Winneshiek and additional counties in northeast Iowa. About half of the five years the organization was only based out of Strawberry Point. Carol’s Closet added a Waukon location five years ago.

Carol’s Closet was named after Carol Dvorak of Spillville, who lived with Parkinson’s/dementia and was being cared for in the home of one of the current co-directors. They started the organization by just helping families with baby clothes and diapers. In the past year alone, the Strawberry Point and Waukon locations have helped in excess of 550 individuals who are raising children and others who are in need.

Carol’s Closet, a 501C3 nonprofit, provides necessities for veterans, seniors, and parents/grandparents/foster parents raising children. Donations of items, money, and volunteer time keep this organization alive. Anyone who would like to donate or volunteer is asked to call 563-608-9649.

As most know, Waukon’s location on Spring Avenue recently had a fire and all donated baby/children’s items were lost. Carol’s Closet hopes individuals, organizations, businesses and churches will join their efforts in 2025. The new location in Waukon is located right next door to the old location, at 30 Spring Avenue, and will now have a monthly expense it did not incur in the past. This will be rent/utilities at approximately $500/month.

Funds raised by the organization in the past have been used to purchase items that are not donated. Examples include cribs, car seats, diapers and baby wipes. Those funds also help purchase furniture, lift chairs, appliances, medical equipment and other household items for veterans, seniors and families. Carol’s Closet also purchases new crib sheets, bed sheets, blankets and bedspreads if no such donations are available. New totes for the Waukon location need to be purchased as well with the Carol’s Closet funds if not donated, as all were lost in the fire.

Sue’s Day Care in Waukon recently held its annual bake sale for Carol’s Closet (see accompanying photo), and People’s State Bank of Waukon recently put out a donation tote in its lobby for people to donate baby essentials. The organization’s co-directors Karen Ehde (Waukon) and Jane Sparrgrove (Strawberry Point) and the Carol’s Closet board members appreciate the community’s support.

Those who have questions or who would like to donate items or funds, or who would even like to pledge to pay a month’s rent sometime over the next year, are asked to call and leave a message at Carol’s Closet at 563-608-9649. A volunteer will return the call. Donations can also be mailed to Carol’s Closet, P.O. Box 23, Waukon, IA 52172.