Founded in 2018 by lifelong friends Tina and Wendy, Our Friends Closet began with a single delivery and a shared commitment to making sure no student feels invisible. Today, we serve over 60 schools across St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Washington, St. Bernard, and Jefferson Parishes, responding to both ongoing needs and urgent requests from school counselors, social workers and staff.
Our Friends Closet is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting homeless, low-income, and unaccompanied students across Southeast Louisiana. We provide free hygiene products, dignity items, individually packaged snacks and meals, and other items as needed and requested by schools to students.
What We Provide
We offer year-round support to students in crisis, including:
- Hygiene kits including soap, deodorant, toothpaste, and menstrual products
- Individually wrapped snacks and meals for students without reliable access to food
- Dignity items such as shoes, socks, school uniforms, lice treatments, etc.,
- Emergency support for urgent needs (clothing, shoes, bikes, space heater, etc.) posted via FACEBOOK and Instagram
Why It Matters
Students experiencing homelessness or poverty often face barriers that go beyond academics. Lack of access to basic items and food can lead to absenteeism, social stigma, and emotional distress. By meeting these needs with compassion and consistency, Our Friends Closet helps students feel seen, supported, and ready to thrive.
Join Us
Whether you donate, volunteer, or help spread the word, your support makes a real difference. Together, we can ensure that every student-regardless of their circumstances-has access to the essentials that restore dignity and hope. There is no question: your efforts change lives.
Financial Transparency
At Our Friends Closet, we believe in radical transparency and responsible stewardship of every donation we receive. We are proud to operate with just 2% administrative costs, ensuring that 98% of all contributions go directly to helping students in need.
We do not have any paid employees. Our organization is entirely volunteer-run, allowing us to maximize impact while minimizing overhead. From packing hygiene kits to coordinating deliveries across parishes, every task is carried out by volunteers with the mission of restoring dignity and meeting basic needs for underserved youth.
This lean model means your support goes where it matters most-into the hands of students facing homelessness, poverty, and food insecurity. Whether it’s a toothbrush, a pair of shoes, or a weekend meal, your donation helps us respond quickly and compassionately to real-time needs across over 60 schools in Southeast Louisiana.
Every dollar counts. Every item matters. Every student deserves dignity.
About Wendy & Tina
For anyone that does not know us, our story, or how 2 women are able to provide needed items to less fortunate students in almost 60 schools across a few parishes, this is for you…
❤️We met 33 years ago when we were roommates, with a total of 4 kids (ages 4, 5, 6, and 7)
❤️In the short time we lived together we had; Frozen pipes, Microwave fire, A flood, we were robbed BUT ….. we had so much FUN!
❤️Both of us grew up in St Bernard Parish. One of us moved to the Northshore after Hurricane Katrina, the other one has lived on the Northshore for 32 years
❤️One of us had an idea to start a non profit, and asked the other if they would help. The other one said “Absolutely”
❤️One of us works part time and is a fulltime (plus) busy grandmother of 11. The other one works full time in New Orleans and is the grandmother of 3
❤️One of us is the behind the scenes person doing all the paperwork and computer stuff to keep us legal and in good standing with the State and IRS. The other one spends her time picking up and delivering items to the schools
❤️Both of us hate public speaking. One of us will do it. The other one will tag along to be supportive but won’t speak.
❤️One of us will send messages/texts at really odd hours and it always starts with “I was thinking….” The other one tells her to stop thinking!
❤️When one of us comes up with a brilliant idea, the other one will always go along with it
❤️One of us had the idea of doing Bunco. The other one dreads it and goes along with it. BOTH of us have a blast the night of the actual Bunco
❤️One of us is better at cutting wrapping paper. The other one is queen of the excel spreadsheet
❤️One of us never balances their own checkbook. The other one loves balancing checkbooks and even volunteers to balance checkbooks for other people
❤️Both of us are extremely frugal and the only thing better than a clearance sale is when we have a coupon
❤️One of us remembers what type of tennis shoes specific kids receive for Christmas. The other one stresses about deadlines for paperwork.
❤️We both appreciate the love and support from everyone