Employees in the Edwardsville office of HeplerBroom recently donated nearly $1,500 to Equipping the Called Foster & Crisis Closet, a non-profit group that provides basic necessities such as clothing and toiletries to children when they are initially placed in foster care. The money was raised through a week-long Penny Wars fundraiser.

Julie Tracy, co-founder of the organization, stated that children often come into foster care with no personal items, many times with only the clothes on their backs. By providing some of those basic needs, Equipping the Called helps reduce the financial strain a new placement can have on a foster family.

Because one of the group’s core values is to restore dignity to foster children, they accept only new or very gently used clothing. The Closet is stocked and maintained completely by volunteers, so all donations go directly to providing for the needs of the children.

Pictured (L-R): Partner Matt Champlin and paralegal Sandy Hammett making a ceremonial presentation of a donation to Julie Tracy, co-founder of Equipping the Called.