Jojo’s Closet is now in a new location – at Alice’s House. They have partnered with Alice’s House as well as some local churches to have drop off locations for donations.
Jojo’s was started to support foster parents by supplying them with new or gently used, stylish clothing, shoes, baby gear, etc. for the foster children in their care. Jojo’s goal is to create a community and an atmosphere for foster families that shows love and support from their community. The foster parents and children are welcome to come to Jojo’s every quarter to get clothing and other available resources. They can also come between their quarterly visits if the child outgrows the clothing they have. “All we ask the parents to do is once the child has outgrown the clothing, and if it is still in good condition, to bring it back to the closet so we can put it back in circulation for other children,” founder Jamie Bates said. Their hope is for these children to feel a sense of normality while with their foster families. JoJo’s Closet is not just about the clothes and other items, but also about showing we care about the well-being of the entire family. The things they are able to give away to foster families are all by donations.
Alice’s House, a former children’s home for teens and sibling groups in foster care, has now transformed into a hub of resources for foster families and children in the West Georgia area. When the children’s home closed in 2019, the Board of Directors began looking for ways to repurpose the 7,000-square-foot space. After two years of searching, Hannah and Aaron Rodriguez moved in as foster parents. With the space being much larger than they needed, and the basement going unused, Hannah and Aaron collaborated with Jeremy and Jamie Bates of JoJo’s Closet and the Board of Alice’s House to form a plan to open a foster care clothing closet, training center, and support-group space in the basement. Spanning 3,500 square feet of remodeled space, this area has quickly become the perfect fit to the Alice’s House, and JoJo’s Closet presents “a solution to an unmet, critical need in the community.” On the grand opening day, the team opened for Alice’s House board members to be the first to come and check out the new space. The first shopping day was August 12, when they were able to serve 12 children in care.
