A Hopkinsville non-profit organization — aimed at assisting foster and surrogate families in the nine-county region — is quickly bringing its mission into focus.
During Tuesday’s Christian County Fiscal Court meeting, Joy Closet Executive Director and Founder Heather Gray gave great detail of the program’s goals to the magistrates and Judge-Executive Steve Tribble, noting that Hopkinsville in-and-of-itself has dire need for such services.
Currently located at 1013 Skyline Drive, Joy Closet began September 1 of last year in the basement of Southside Church of Christ by organizing donations through divided totes. One month later, Joy Closet and its 40-plus volunteers began serving families.
More than 800 pieces of clothing went to children for free in the first three months, and Gray noted more than 400 clothing items were handed out in January alone.
But clothing isn’t the only amenity Joy Closet can provide. Gray said programming is going to take on an even bigger impetus in 2022, and other materials such as hygiene products, beds, bedding and baby items can help foster and surrogate families provide the best of situations.
As of the beginning of February, Gray said Christian County had just 47 foster homes and 210 foster children. This means the children of Hopkinsville and its surrounding burbs sometimes have to be placed elsewhere in west Kentucky and beyond — particularly in Hopkins County and Madisonville, where many foster families reside.
Having already applied for 501 C-3 non-profit status, Gray said an upcoming relocation to Belmont Hill is only going to further their concept and improve their vision for foster families in the region.
Already, the organization has taken in large donations from the Christian County Weather Spotters and Christian County Emergency Management, and Gray added a paperwork trail and a referral process is helping streamline those most in need.
A native of Hopkinsville, Gray and her husband, Marc, were briefly relocated to Cookeville, Tennessee, in 2016 for work reasons when they adopted their two eldest girls.
A third daughter came into the family picture soon after, and thus began a life of service into the adoption world.
For more information, visit joycloset.org online, or search out Joy Closet on Facebook.
