Care Closet
The Care Closet works in direct partnership with Ventura County Children & Family Services (VCCFS). Children, youth and fragile families in need in our community benefit from this program. The committee sorts, labels and bags new and gently used clothing from infant to teen sizes. Other necessities, including diapers, car seats, backpacks, beds and gift cards are purchased. All of these items are given to VCCFS where they store the donated items at the County Care Closets located in Ventura and Simi Valley. These items are ready to be picked up 24 hours a day, by social workers for their clients, or when emergencies occur, such as when a child needs to be removed from an unsafe situation and leaves with nothing.
The Care Closet has a special emergency fund that is used for specific emergency needs. These needs can include items such as eyeglasses for a child, tires so a parent can get to work, a first month’s rent or sports equipment for a child to join a sports team for example.
Care Closet also supports eight Healthy Start classrooms; two in the Hueneme School District and six in the Oxnard School District. These classrooms are staffed by the County and each one has a social worker. They are located in the areas of most need. Each classroom has a Care Closet and exists to help and support children and families in their area.
It is the goal of VCCFS to keep families together whenever possible. The Care Closet program plays a very important and vital role in helping them achieve this mission. Each year, the OAVC Care Closet program serves thousands of children and families in Ventura County. Only requests and referrals from VCCFS are accepted. No private or individual referrals are accepted.
“The Care Closet program has played a crucial role in helping to keep families together by alleviating some of the immediate stressors that can strain family dynamics. The program provides essential resources such as food, clothing, hygiene products and other necessary items, ensuring that families have their basic needs met. By reducing the financial burden on families, the program allows parents to focus on maintaining stable and nurturing relationships with their children, rather than worrying about day-to-day survival.” – Ventura County Social Worker
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