Zoo-Nye Closet hosts school supply drive ahead of Aug. 24 giveaway

Zoo-Nye Closet isn’t a typical thrift store.

Everything inside is free.

The store, located in its namesake community of Zuni near the Isle of Wight-Southampton county line, has designated “shopping days” when members of the community can come inside and load a grocery bag full of whatever they need.

The nonprofit, which opened its doors in 2021, is hosting a back-to-school drive ahead of an Aug. 24 shopping day where one person per household will be given two grocery bags to fill with clothing and school supplies, and two pairs of shoes.

“It’s like they’re shopping; it’s like a thrift store, but it’s free,” said Zoo-Nye Closet founder Felicia Creason.

On Aug. 24, shoppers will be free to fill their two bags to the brim unless supplies run out, which is why she’s soliciting donations of clothing, shoes, backpacks, pens, pencils and other school supplies.

“We just try to get the basic stuff,” Creason said.

It’s not just clothes and school supplies shoppers will find inside. There’s also furniture, linens, hygiene and cleaning supplies and diapers.

“Basically everything you need to live daily life or would find in a thrift shop,” Creason said.

Creason, a single mother at the time of Zoo-Nye Closet’s founding, told The Smithfield Times she founded her nonprofit because she knows personally what it’s like to fall through the cracks. From 2004 to 2021, she earned just $3 to $100 above the monthly income limit to receive government assistance, and had to rely on food banks to make ends meet.

Zoo-Nye Closet also partners with Toys for Tots, the flagship charity of the Marine Corps.

“We had 155 children get their toys from us in Zuni,” Creason said. “This year, we want to double it. We would love to sign anyone up.”

Donations of clothing and school supplies for the Aug. 24 giveaway can be dropped off daily at 5352 Windsor Blvd., the store’s address, through July 31. Donors can drop them on the front porch or call 757-876-8194 or 757-513-0883 to schedule larger drop-offs, Creason said.

The store itself is closed to shoppers during July, as the building is without air-conditioning, heat or running water. The nonprofit has also put out a wishlist on Amazon.com at https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/dl/invite/iJQK96d?ref_=wl_share .

“We are blessed to have a roof over us,” Creason said. “We started in my back yard/barn, which overflowed and took our parking, so we had to park at the neighbors. Our landlord has been a huge blessing. She allowed us to use the building but (we) are responsible for repairs.”

The building underwent minimal renovations the year of its founding with donations of supplies and labor from the community, but still needs more work.

“We need electrical work, plumbing, building wrapped, siding, roof sealed and a handicap ramp,” Creason said.

Despite this, the nonprofit’s volunteers are used to going without.

“We will keep pushing forward as long as the community needs us,” Creason said.

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