Caring Closet joins UMFS in New Partnership

February 20, 2023

We are excited to announce our newest partnership and Richmond campus resident, Caring Closet!

Caring Closet, founded by Sara Fender, started with a desire to provide a quality, first-class experience for youth in foster care in need of clothing and other key essentials.

Since 2008, Caring Closet has operated out of multiple locations, from home garages to churches. While the organization has served over 10,000 clients in its 14 years of operation, Fender hopes to grow that number exponentially as they have officially opened their doors on at UMFS’ campus. 

Prior to the rise of Caring Closet, Fender volunteered with the organization for many years. During that time she was blown away by UMFS’ pursuit to making lives better for the kids and families we serve — which motivated her desire to have Caring Closet easily accessible to the children, youth, and families in the many UMFS programs.

Last December, Caring Closet officially made the move into the 8,000 square foot building to expand on their offerings while also reaching more families in need.

“We just really felt at home with UMFS and how passionate they were about the kids they served and the families they served in the community,” said Fender. “Just the fact that they’re supporting us with this building has lended us some additional credibility.”

The partnership with Caring Closet is the first of its kind as UMFS begins an initiative to collaborate and partner with mission-aligned organizations that give our kids a first-class experience. Sara Fender and Caring Closet has done just that.

“One of our core values is “Passion Unleashes Greatness” and Sara Fender exudes that,” said Nancy Toscano, President & Chief Executive Officer at UMFS. “As a result, Caring Closet provides the best and that’s what we want for our kids.”