Bustling Community Closet born from an opportunity
Steger woman wanted to give her kids a chance ‘to fix what they see wrong in the world’
Laurie Hensley didn’t know exactly what to do when two empty funeral urns got dropped off at the Community Closet of Steger and the Southlands.
Having operated the charity for nearly a decade, Hensley is a pro at processing donations of heaps of clothing, small furniture and appliances. So, however unexpected, she knew the donation of two urns presented a unique opportunity to help community members in need.
“We posted on the Facebook page: ‘This is an odd one, guys, but we’re looking for two specific individuals who need these,’ ” she said. “Maybe for a loved one they couldn’t afford to put to rest nicely.”
In less than two hours, the Community Closet gave one urn to a man who had been keeping his wife’s remains in a cardboard box and the other to a woman who couldn’t afford a burial for her adult son.
The Community Closet, which sprang up out of Hensley’s Steger home, had its origins in a desire by her then-young children to help a local family in need. The effort “snowballed,” Hensley said, as she and her family continued aiding neighbors.
“This gave (my kids) the opportunity to fix what they see wrong in the world,” she said. “You can’t keep complaining about things if you’re not willing to go out and fix it.”
Now adults, Hensley’s children are Michelle Perry, who works as a teacher, and Robert Hensley, who is studying biomedical engineering at Southern Illinois University. Both continue to volunteer with the Community Closet, with Perry running
“People can post in the group to request something from the closet. Ninety percent of the time, if we don’t have what they need, someone will offer it up.” — Laurie Hensley
the Facebook page alongside her mom.
The organization focuses on responding to the needs of people in the southeast suburbs through its brickand-mortar free “store” that offers clothing, small appliances and décor, and a Facebook group that helps neighbors exchange items.
The store operates out of First Christian Church of Lansing at 2921 Ridge Road.
It is open from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Sundays but closed the third Sunday of each month.
On Facebook, the Community Closet group runs 24/7, with 50 to 60 monthly posts seeking and offering items, Hensley said. Members of the group try to help families who suffered house fires or got evicted; those fleeing violent home situations or taking in foster children; and anyone
else with a specific need.
“People can post in the group to request something from the closet,” she said. “Ninety percent of the time, if we don’t have what they need, someone will offer it up.”
Recently, the Community Closet received a request to help a family fleeing from Afghanistan, Hensley said. A local Marine was helping them resettle in the Midwest, and family members needed new wardrobes after leaving everything behind in a rush to escape the new Taliban authority.
The Marine brought the husband, wife and three young children to the store on one of its open days. To provide the family with
privacy, Hensley said they used the store’s upper level to make their selections.
Hensley said she and the other volunteers paid special attention to respecting the family’s Muslim faith and culture while choosing clothing for them to consider. Their religion and social norms dictate a more conservative style of dress than is typical in America.
“It was (different) pulling for an Afghan family because they can’t have pictures on their clothes or any bright colors,” Hensley said.
The Community Closet consistently partners with other local aid organizations — including South Suburban PADS and Aunt Martha’s — for food giveaways, donation
drives and more. It also hosts an annual book drive and fair-style giveaway.
“This year we brought in and gave away 83 crates of books,” Hensley said.
Every year the Community Closet also organizes a winter coat drive, along with Promapalooza, when the Prom Room opens for girls to select gently used homecoming and prom dresses.
“We just got done with homecoming,” Hensley said. “It wasn’t as big as some of our previous years, but we were able to help 38 girls get dresses to wear to their homecoming dances.”