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Independence, MO —
A decade ago, Tabitha’s Closet began modestly as a room at First Christian Church of Independence.
But last school year, 1,920 Independence School District children received clothing and shoes from the all-volunteer effort, a 63 percent increase from the previous academic year.
Tabitha’s Closet and one of its biggest fundraisers – a concert with Wild Women of Kansas City – also has taken off in two years. In 2010, the freewill offering/silent auction event raised $1,600.
Last year, the fundraiser brought in $6,000, an amount that Norma Tibbetts, co-director of Tabitha’s Closet, said she hopes the community will repeat this Sunday. The third annual Tabitha’s Benefit Concert starts at 3 p.m. at 125 S. Pleasant St.
This year’s performance with Wild Women of Kansas City will be different, though. One of the jazz quartet’s singers, Myra Taylor, died last December at the age of 94. The remaining members of Geneva Price, Lori Tucker and Millie Edwards – who is from Independence and is a graduate of William Chrisman High School – will perform.
“We’re glad that it’s free because a lot of families we serve – and just a lot of families – can’t afford to come to concerts like this,” Tibbetts said. “They’re just amazing women. Their singing is incredible, but they are so energetic and they are so enthusiastic. A lot of it is involving the audience and getting them involved with their enthusiasm and their love of singing. It’s just a delightful afternoon.”
Tabitha’s Closet also recently received two significant grants that will go toward buying new socks, shoes and underwear, including a $3,000 grant from the Truman Heartland Community Foundation and a $2,000 grant from Independence Young Matrons.
“It’s our first year applying for a grant through Truman Heartland, and we are very honored by that,” Tibbetts said.
As an outreach ministry of First Christian Church of Independence, Tabitha’s Closet partners with Independence School District, and family school liaisons refer families to the closet. For each child, parents and guardians can “shop” for three pairs of pants, six tops, a jacket, a winter coat, hat and gloves, as well as new shoes, socks and underwear.
Tabitha’s Closet also organized a golf tournament fundraiser at Drumm Farm for the first time this year. While the effort is sponsored the church and the church provides the space, the expenses involve buying socks, shoes and underwear. Other community organizations and churches also conduct drives for the closet.
“It’s very gratifying to work with all of the people, but I especially like working with the teenagers,” Tibbetts said. “The high-school students are just fun, and they always find clothes – they have such a good attitude and they’re all very open about who they are and what they want.
“It has grown so much in nine years. We started just really as a room to hold some clothes. I think the thing that everyone enjoys the most is on Tuesdays, when the kids come and they get to pick out their clothes.”
A decade ago, Tabitha’s Closet began modestly as a room at First Christian Church of Independence.
But last school year, 1,920 Independence School District children received clothing and shoes from the all-volunteer effort, a 63 percent increase from the previous academic year.
Tabitha’s Closet and one of its biggest fundraisers – a concert with Wild Women of Kansas City – also has taken off in two years. In 2010, the freewill offering/silent auction event raised $1,600.
Last year, the fundraiser brought in $6,000, an amount that Norma Tibbetts, co-director of Tabitha’s Closet, said she hopes the community will repeat this Sunday. The third annual Tabitha’s Benefit Concert starts at 3 p.m. at 125 S. Pleasant St.
This year’s performance with Wild Women of Kansas City will be different, though. One of the jazz quartet’s singers, Myra Taylor, died last December at the age of 94. The remaining members of Geneva Price, Lori Tucker and Millie Edwards – who is from Independence and is a graduate of William Chrisman High School – will perform.
“We’re glad that it’s free because a lot of families we serve – and just a lot of families – can’t afford to come to concerts like this,” Tibbetts said. “They’re just amazing women. Their singing is incredible, but they are so energetic and they are so enthusiastic. A lot of it is involving the audience and getting them involved with their enthusiasm and their love of singing. It’s just a delightful afternoon.”
Tabitha’s Closet also recently received two significant grants that will go toward buying new socks, shoes and underwear, including a $3,000 grant from the Truman Heartland Community Foundation and a $2,000 grant from Independence Young Matrons.
“It’s our first year applying for a grant through Truman Heartland, and we are very honored by that,” Tibbetts said.
As an outreach ministry of First Christian Church of Independence, Tabitha’s Closet partners with Independence School District, and family school liaisons refer families to the closet. For each child, parents and guardians can “shop” for three pairs of pants, six tops, a jacket, a winter coat, hat and gloves, as well as new shoes, socks and underwear.
Tabitha’s Closet also organized a golf tournament fundraiser at Drumm Farm for the first time this year. While the effort is sponsored the church and the church provides the space, the expenses involve buying socks, shoes and underwear. Other community organizations and churches also conduct drives for the closet.
“It’s very gratifying to work with all of the people, but I especially like working with the teenagers,” Tibbetts said. “The high-school students are just fun, and they always find clothes – they have such a good attitude and they’re all very open about who they are and what they want.
“It has grown so much in nine years. We started just really as a room to hold some clothes. I think the thing that everyone enjoys the most is on Tuesdays, when the kids come and they get to pick out their clothes.”
