Partner Agency Spotlight:

CCC's Mission:

The mission of the Community Clothes Closet is to provide free clothing to all those in need.

United Way Funding in 2026:

This year, United Way funding is supporting Community Clothes Closet’s Traveling Closet program in Shawano, a mobile outreach initiative that brings free clothing and essential items directly to individuals and families experiencing financial hardship. Many residents in Shawano face barriers such as limited transportation, rising living costs, and reduced access to affordable clothing. The Traveling Closet helps remove those barriers by meeting people where they are. Through this program, our team transports and sets up a mobile clothing distribution that provides high-quality, gently used and new clothing for children, adults, and older adults. Items include everyday clothing, work-appropriate attire, seasonal outerwear, shoes, and children’s essentials. By providing these necessities at no cost, the program helps individuals prepare for work, keep their children clothed for school, and stay safe during Wisconsin’s changing seasons. 

The Traveling Closet operates in partnership with local community organizations and social service agencies in Shawano to ensure services reach those with the greatest need. Each event will serve dozens of households and distribute hundreds of clothing items, helping families stretch limited budgets while restoring dignity and confidence. By bringing essential clothing resources directly into the community, the Traveling Closet strengthens stability for families, supports individuals pursuing employment, and ensures that children have the clothing they need to attend school comfortably and confidently.

What else does CCC do?

In addition to the Traveling Closet, Community Clothes Closet operates several programs that provide essential clothing and resources to individuals and families across Northeastern Wisconsin: 

• Shopping Floor: Our primary program at our Menasha facility where individuals and families referred by partner agencies can shop for free clothing, shoes, outerwear, and accessories in a dignified retail-style environment.
• New Start Boutique: Provides job seekers with professional clothing and accessories to help them feel confident and prepared for interviews and employment.
• Back-to-School: Ensures children start the school year with new backpacks, clothing, and essentials so they can feel confident and ready to learn.
• Winter Ready: Distributes coats, snow pants, boots, hats, and gloves to help children stay warm and safe during Wisconsin winters.
• PajamaRama: Provides new pajamas, pillow with pillowcase, blanket, book, and stuffed animal to children experiencing hardship so they can go to bed feeling comfortable, secure, and cared for.
• Baby Kits: Supplies new parents and caregivers with essential clothing and basic items for infants during the first year of life.
• Closet to Closet: Provides emergency clothing kits for children entering foster care or crisis situations through partnerships with local agencies. 

These programs ensure individuals and families have access to the clothing and essentials they need to feel confident, stable, and prepared for everyday life.

Client stories!

One of the most powerful parts of our work is hearing directly from the individuals and families we serve.

In Clintonville, our partner at the Compassionate Connections Center has seen firsthand the difference the Traveling Closet makes in the community. As Executive Director Leah Wojnowiak shared:

“The Traveling Clothes Closet has had a significant impact on Clintonville by providing essential clothing to families. The Traveling Closet visits the Clintonville community every 60 days ensuring that everyone has access to clean and seasonally appropriate attire, which is especially important for children as they grow. The Traveling Closet puts an incredible amount of time and care into curating a clothes closet especially for the families they serve here in the Clintonville community. It has been a true joy for the Compassionate Connections Center to partner with the Traveling Closet and witness families select clothing that suits their personal style and needs, helping to empower them and boost their self-esteem.”

We also recently began conducting client interviews, and one story continues to stand out.

At a Traveling Closet event in Oshkosh, we met a new father who had just welcomed a baby days earlier. Between him and his partner, they are raising five children. Despite the exhaustion that comes with a newborn and the demands of caring for a large family, they showed up to the Traveling Closet because their children needed clothing.

What made his story even more remarkable is that he is currently attending school and hopes to run for a seat on the local school board, working toward a better future for both his family and his community.

During the conversation, he shared something that deeply moved our team. Before visiting the Traveling Closet, he had never owned a brand-new pair of shoes. Not because he didn’t want them, but because he didn’t own socks. To him, it never made sense to buy new shoes when he had nothing to wear with them.

After visiting the Traveling Closet, he left with clothing, socks, and something less tangible but just as important: confidence. For the first time in his life, he went out and bought himself a brand-new pair of shoes.

To many people, that may seem like a small thing. But in that moment, it represented dignity, self-worth, and a renewed sense of possibility. It was a reminder that when basic needs are met, people can move forward with greater confidence to care for their families and pursue their goals.

Community Clothes Closet believes that clothing is more than a basic necessity; it is a foundation for dignity, confidence, and opportunity. When individuals and families have access to clean, well-fitting clothing, they are better equipped to attend school, pursue employment, care for their families, and participate fully in their communities.

Additional Information about CCC:

Since 1980, CCC has remained committed to removing barriers for individuals experiencing financial hardship by providing clothing completely free of charge. What began as a small church-led initiative has grown into a regional resource serving thousands of people each year through our Menasha facility and our Traveling Closet mobile outreach program.

Our work is made possible through strong partnerships with over 90 social service agencies, as well as the dedication of our volunteers, donors, and community supporters. Together, we ensure that individuals are not only receiving essential items but also experiencing a welcoming and dignified environment where they can choose clothing that fits their personal needs and style.

At its core, CCC is about empowering people with the resources they need to move forward with confidence. Every coat, pair of shoes, or set of pajamas represents a community coming together to support one another.

Interested in learning more about Community Clothes Closet? Join them for their upcoming open house:

Community Open House: | October 14 | 4-6pm | Community Clothes Closet, Menasha Our Community Open House invites the public to tour the Closet, learn more about our programs, and see firsthand how clothing donations are transformed into life-changing resources for families in need. The event includes facility tours, opportunities to meet staff and volunteers and light refreshments. It serves as both an educational opportunity and a way to strengthen community connections while highlighting the impact of the CCC’s work.

Or email Karissa Buck at karissa@communityclothescloset.org to learn more about how they’re supporting our local families!