Grants

The Closet distributes its surplus revenues to local 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations that are working to strengthen the fabric of Northern Virginia communities.  We welcome grant applications from local organizations that create positive change in Fairfax and Loudoun Counties by improving the lives of people in need.  Grants typically range from $500 to $5,000 and are dependent on The Closet having surplus revenues to distribute. Since The Closet’s founding in 1974, over $2.5M has been distributed as grants.

 Applications should include information regarding the organization’s mission, the geographic area supported by the organization, the grant amount being requested, and how the requested grant would be used to support the community. Including a brochure or other information regarding the organization and its support to the Northern Virginia community is highly encouraged.

Grant applications should be submitted by the last day of March, June, September, and December from local 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations that serve low income and at-risk individuals and families of Fairfax and Loudoun Counties. The Closet will review the request and respond by the end of the following month.  The applications should be sent in hardcopy to
The Closet, P.O. Box 42, Herndon, VA 20172 and also emailed to theclosetinc@verizon.net.

 

Scholarships

The Closet is proud to support our local community members through its scholarship program which provides scholarships for local high school students pursuing post-secondary educational opportunities.  Since The Closet’s founding in 1974, over $779K has been provided for scholarships.  Currently, The Closet’s scholarship program is for students at Dominion High School, Herndon High School, Mountain View High School, Park View High School, South Lakes High School, and Westfield High School. The selection and identification process for the student scholarships are determined by each high school’s own guidance and scholarship department.  Interested students from these schools should speak directly to their school’s scholarship office.

 

Voucher Program

From its founding days in 1974, The Closet has always had a policy that if someone couldn’t afford to shop at the store for essential items, they could bring a referral from a local social services organization and select items for free, a practice that carries over in the current voucher program. Today, The Closet partners with local government and community-based organizations to help people in need in the community. The voucher allows people to shop twice a year for clothing; shoes; essential household items such as sheets, blankets, cookware, and dishes; and a range of other merchandise up to a total amount dependent upon the family size. Since 2007, The Closet has distributed over $1.3M in clothing and other necessities to voucher recipients.
Who is Eligible for a Voucher?
Government and private social service organizations, member congregations, and schools are eligible to request voucher assistance. Referring agents should contact The Closet via phone (703-477-8405) or email (theclosetinc@verizon.net) for an official referral form. The Closet Voucher program is entirely free, there is absolutely no charge to any of the participants. Our only request is that the vouchers be distributed to clients who currently have a genuine requirement for assistance in order to meet their basic needs. Only one voucher per person every six months. Regardless of how many organizations refer a client, the client will be able to take advantage of only one referral per season.
How are Vouchers Redeemed?
The voucher desk is open Monday – Saturday, beginning at 10:00AM.   Recipients must check in with the voucher desk before they begin to shop.  They must provide a valid photo identification to the voucher desk representative for every adult (age 18 or older). Once the recipient has finished shopping, the individual returns to the voucher desk to check out. Voucher recipients need to check in, complete their shopping, and return to the voucher desk no later than 2:00PM (Monday – Thursday) and no later than 4:00PM (Friday – Saturday) to allow the voucher desk time to check them out.

The Closet is accessible by public transportation on several routes. To plan your specific trip, you can go to the Metro trip planner at http://www.wmata.com.

For more information on our Voucher program contact The Closet at 703-437-7652 or theclosetinc@verizon.net.