Clara's Closet Ministry

Serving Refugees and Low-Income People

IMPORTANT NOTICE :For the health and safety of our clients and volunteers, Clara’s Closet will be closed to donors until further notice. Clients may shop Thursdays BY APPOINTMENT ONLY.

UPDATE: Clara's Closet is closed through the end of 2020. We cannot at this time schedule additional appointments for clients. Please check back after January 1, 2021 for updated information.

We are closely following Coronavirus prevention guidelines and encourage our clients to visit Coronavirus.gov for information on how to protect themselves and their families. We love you all.

Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it - Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Matthew 22:37-39​

Hours

 No-cost shopping for Clients
Donations - Closed until further notice.

For updates, please visit our Facebook Page

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About

Clara's Closet provides gently used and sometimes brand new clothing, hygiene and home goods to people who find themselves in need. Leave a message on the church answering machine to schedule a drop-off. (716)833-3193, ext. 3

At this time we are accepting new unopened:

• ​toothpaste
• toothbrushes
• deodorant
• shampoo
• soap (bar or liquid)
• laundry detergent
• dish soap
• sanitary napkins (no tampons)​
• diapers.
• New socks and underwear for children and adults (all sizes)

Volunteer Opportunities

​Clara's Closet is growing. The need to process donations and provide customer service is great. You may be the key to helping us serve our clients even better. Do you have a servant's heart? Would you like to make an impact on people by meeting some of their basic needs?

If you are interested in serving with us, and we hope you are, please come to Clara's Closet during  shop hours to meet with manager Carol Williams. 

GIVE ON LINE TO CLARA'S CLOSET

Important: Please type "Gift for Clara's Closet" in the "Add a note" area in PayPal. Thank you!

Clara’s Closet Refugee Services, Inc. is a 501c3 organization dedicated to serving refugees and low-income persons in the City of Buffalo. Clara’s Closet is located in the basement level of Central Park United Methodist Church, 216 Beard Avenue, Buffalo, NY   14214.

Welcome The Stranger
In 1999, a group of parishioners from Central Park United Methodist Church, Refreshing Springs Church and Hope Kensington United Methodist Church joined together with Journey’s End Resettlement Services to sponsor a newly-arriving refugee family from Sudan to the Buffalo area. The family was welcomed into the Central Park fellowship of worship and a new chapter in the church’s mission life was born.

Clara Small (1929 - 2017) was a pioneer in leading the Central Park's congregation to establish the ministry that now bears her name, and we are grateful for her years of dedicated service on behalf of Buffalo’s refugee community.

Clara's Closet Ministry has serviced thousands of refugees and needy persons in the years since it was first established.  Predicated on our Savior’s words in Matthew 25, the ministry seeks to minister to “the least of these” by clothing the naked and welcoming the stranger. In this way, we believe we are fulfilling Christ’s mandate to “love our neighbor as ourselves.” Matthew 22:39