THESE WOMEN REALLY CARE!

The Mother Teresa's Closet committee and Father Matthew Wetsel, pastor at Holy Trinity Church in Johnstown, are shown with representatives from “100 Women Who Care of the Adirondack Foothills” who presented the group with their “check” for $13,700. The presentation was made prior to the group’s June 8 supplies distribution. (Photo provided)

Mother Teresa’s Closet, an outreach ministry of Holy Trinity Church in Johnstown, was the May 2023 recipient of “100 Women Who Care of the Adirondack Foothills,” an organization of women who support the innovative concept of “collective philanthropy.” These women share a common desire to give back to their community in a thoughtful, streamlined way, and each woman commits to donate $100 per quarter ($400 annually) to support non-profit groups in Fulton, Montgomery and Schoharie Counties. 

Mother Teresa’s Closet began in 2011 when the committee and pastor at the time saw a need in the community to support their neighbors: the needy families in Fulton County. While there were well-established food pantries in the area, the committee saw a gap to be filled in providing paper, cleaning and personal hygiene products. The program was formed and the “Closet” was created in the old teacher’s lunchroom in Saint Patrick’s School, now the parish hall/office. The Closet is stocked with donated items and with purchases made using donated money.

Mother Teresa’s Closet is funded by donations from parishioners — often in memory of a loved one — as well as from twice-a-year donations from the Helpers Community Store, a sister ministry. The group also accepts unopened products from parishioners and local organizations.

During the pandemic, Mother Teresa’s Closet was closed during most of 2020 and 2021, re-opening in December 2021. Due to the continued challenge of the pandemic, the Closet re-opened with a once-a-month distribution date and a process of providing a pre-packed bag of supplies to each recipient family. That bag includes toilet paper, paper towels, facial tissues, soap, shampoo, deodorant, toothbrushes and toothpaste, laundry detergent, spray cleaner, and dish soap. Additionally, upon request, families with infants and children can receive diapers and wipes, women can receive feminine hygiene products and seniors can request incontinent supplies. During 2022, the group served just over 100 families/individuals with an average of 40 families per month at the distributions. The committee is a group of 14 dedicated women.

Earlier this year, due to the increased costs and limited donations, Mother Teresa’s Closet made the decision to modify distribution — each family will continue to receive a bag of paper products — toilet paper, paper towels and facial tissues — and then will be able to select the additional supplies they need for that month. The hope is that this will lessen costs, while still providing needed supplies to recipient families. 

Being chosen as the second quarter 2023 recipient of “100 Women Who Care of the Adirondack Foothills” has been a tremendous blessing to the ministry. On the morning of the day they were selected, distribution closed early as all of the bags of supplies (56 in total) had been given away. This donation from over 130 women in the area in support of this ministry will ensure that Mother Teresa’s Closet can increase the number of bags packed per month to help serve the growing need in Fulton County.

The 100 Women Who Care organization encourages women to join the group at any time. Their website contains more information: www.100womenadk.com.