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'The community really rallied around us' | Clothing closet serving foster kids given new space, avoids closure

A local law firm stepped in to donate a new space for the 'Wrapped in Love' clothing closet, preventing the group from closing its doors

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. — It's a holiday season worth celebrating for a Gwinnett County group that's dedicated to helping kids in need. 

In November, 11Alive shared news that the 'Wrapped in Love' clothing closet faced potential closure after the building that holds the closet was sold.

The group provides clothing, toiletries, toys, books and more to children in foster care for free, but the future for that support was uncertain, Andrea Barclay explained. 

"We're in a crisis if we don't find a place that we can afford or someone to donate to us," Barclay told 11Alive.

The closure, she emphasized, would have a ripple effect on local foster children and families.

"We serve families impacted by foster care, whether they're foster children, adopted children or kinship children, and this is our closet where they come in and shop for free for all their clothing, toiletries, toys, books," Barclay, founder and CEO of "Because One Matters," which operates the closet, explained.  "Everything that you could think of that a child would need, It's in this closet."

Fortunately, it's good news for 2024 for the group after the Michael Coker law firm in Lawrenceville helped. Barclay said the firm is donating space free of charge to the group, allowing the team to continue services to area kids in need. 

Barclay is not only grateful to Coker, but the community who reached out in support.

"The community really rallied around us," she told me. "I got so many emails, texts, phone calls saying 'how can we help?' The community really rallied around us to save our closet, and I am so thankful."

As the closet team transitions to its new space (90 Langley Drive in Lawrenceville), donations are on pause. However, there are volunteer opportunities and ways to support the closet's efforts through donations. Learn more and find the latest updates here.  

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