Youth and Family Counseling Agency runs a community closet for the entire community

Across the United States millions of families are struggling to clothe their children, furnish their home and get access to other essential items. The Youth and Family Counseling Agency of Oyster Bay-East Norwich is doing its part at the local level to help families and community members meet these challenges with their Neighbor to Neighbor Community Closet.

For more than half a century the nonprofit counseling agency has served the neighboring communities of Oyster Bay and East Norwich in a wide range of capacities. They offer family support services, therapy, drug outpatient services and toddler education.

Throughout their long existence YFCA has also provided lightly used clothing and household items for community members in need. In the past these items were given from and donated directly to the charity’s headquarters in Oyster Bay.

During and following the coronavirus pandemic however, the need for assistance grew quickly, and the number of donations also grew apace. Barbara Rakusin, YFCA’s executive director, and Ingrid Morales, the bilingual outreach coordinator and coordinator of special programs, said that the organization knew it needed to expand.

“During the pandemic, Ingrid got much busier with this kind of stuff, and people needed a lot more things,” Rakusin said. “It mostly happened because the volume and the need got larger.”

In April of 2022, with the help of Christ Church of Oyster Bay and the Interreligious Human Needs Council, YFCA officially opened their new community closet at 127 South Street in Oyster Bay. The space, which is 1,300 square feet, features hundreds of clothing items and household essentials, everything from shoes to dining ware to prom dresses and sporting equipment.

Morales and Rakusin say the community has been a tremendous help in supplying the donated goods, although there are some items which they need more than others. Sports cleats, school equipment and toiletries are constantly in demand, while entertainment items like books and TV’s rarely leave the shelves.

“The residents in Oyster Bay donate a lot to the families we help,” Morales said. “They appreciate that we’re not selling the items too; they know that it’s going directly to families in need.”

Rakusin and Morales explained that the new building is not a store, although it is sometimes referred to as such; no goods are bought or sold there but are instead given to those who need it. While people do sometimes make cash donations, they say that this is not a business, but a way for people to provide essentials for their families while retaining their dignity and pride.

One recipient of the community closet’s generosity even wrote a letter to the charity thanking them for their efforts and the support they received.

“Your kindness and generosity has been heaven sent,” they wrote. “When I walk into the store, I’m always made to feel welcomed and leave feeling I’ve just left a friend’s house.”

The community closet is open Monday through Friday at a variety of hours, which are available on the organization’s website, YfcaOysterBay.org. Anyone interested in donating or learning more about the organization can contact (516) 922-6867.