Our Friends Closet is a non profit that provides much needed items to homeless and low income students in our community including individually wrapped snacks as well as food and meals for those students that do not have food available to them after school, weekends, and during school breaks.
We also provide personal hygiene products and other dignity items to students in need.
Tina and Wendy have been friends for 30 years and together we started this non profit to help students in our community.
Our Friends Closet provides free hygiene and basic need items to homeless, low income and/or unaccompanied students.
Our first delivery was in January of 2018. We now deliver to over 60 schools in St. Tammany Parish, St. Bernard Parish, Washington Parish, Bogalusa, Tangipahoa Parish, Jefferson Parish, Hancock County Mississippi and Ocean Springs Mississippi providing much needed items .
From time to time we also receive requests from the schools for a student that has an urgent/immediate need. Because of the generous donations, we are able to post these immediate needs on Facebook and provide items to students. (clothing, shoes, etc).
We are officially a 501(c) (3). We have no administrative costs, and everything collected goes back to providing items for the students in need.
There is absolutely NO question that your efforts will make life better for these students.
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