New clothes closet: 'Let us continue to uplift each other, one hanger at a time'

ENGLEWOOD — The St. David’s Jubilee Center Clothes Closet reopened Thursday, welcoming the community, but also honoring a special person.

Located at 401 S. Broadway, the new and improved Clothes Closet is free to the public and open from 10 a.m.-noon Tuesday with a variety of clothing options for all ages and genders.

Laura Roy, the Jubilee Center administrative manager, said the Clothes Closet was devastated by Hurricane Ian, ultimately causing it to move to a room within the parish hall of the church. The storm hit Englewood hard on Sept. 28, 2022.

“Despite the challenges that we faced over the course of the past two years at getting this back up and running, we are bigger and better than ever, just like our Englewood community,” Roy said. “We all suffered a lot of loss, but we came back stronger.”

Joe Backus worked with Roy and community members to create the new Clothes Closet.

“Without Joe, this would not have been possible,” Roy said.

Backus said it was the community that made the opening possible.

“Jubilee serves over 1,000 people a month with food and clothing and basic hygiene needs,” he said. “Everything we distribute is donated to us, so we’re just a conduit.”

Through the help of community contractors and the Home Depot Foundation, the Clothes Closet is the boutique experience Roy has always wanted for her clients.

“Thank you everybody for your contribution,” he said.

Pat Knox is the former director of the Jubilee Center and is often described as a “five-foot powerhouse.”

Roy held Knox close to her as the Rev. Vickie McDonald talked about Knox’s character and contributions to St. David’s.

“I just want to share with you that my ministry here at Saint David’s started its eighth year in June, and I have been so blessed to meet and know a modern day prophet,” McDonald said, looking at Knox. “I would describe her as a five foot powerhouse, a lover of all God’s creatures, great and small, human and animal.”

She said Knox took up the call to feed the people in need and clothe the people in need.

“One of our baptismal vows happens to be to respect the dignity of every human being, and she lives this every day,” McDonald said. “I want to thank each one of you personally with the deepest gratitude from my heart that you helped this dream come true.”

The flock of community members and volunteers headed outside to see the unveiling of the Clothes Closet sign. Unbeknownst to Knox, the sign read “Pat’s Kindness closet.”

Roy and Knox embraced.

“Thank you, Pat,” Roy said. “Let us continue to uplift each other, one hanger at a time.”

For more information, call 941-681-3550.