The Community Closet’s mission is larger than providing affordable second-hand clothing and household goods; they are also one of the largest charitable foundations in Park County. Since opening their doors in 2005 and taking in donations of goods that may have otherwise ended up in the landfill, the Community Closet has donated thrift sale proceeds to nonprofit activities in Park County – over $400,000 in cash grants as of December 2017 – to charitable groups from the 4-H Li

“A sorrow shared is half the sorrow. A joy shared is twice the joy.” Most cultures have a version of this proverb and it is more relevant than ever. Researchers are increasingly alarmed at statistics showing a growth in sorrow and loneliness – as much as half the adult population by some measures – in the United States and are calling it a modern epidemic. Chronic loneliness is being linked to physical illness, functional and cognitive decline, and even early death. Connectin

The Community Closet is welcoming donations of packages of disposable diapers of all sizes for the new Park County Diaper Depot.

Little house of big bargains integral part of the successful Community Closet 'machine' At 9:45 on a Saturday morning, the regulars are already gathering outside the Alley Annex. Some hang back and chat, sharing community news and gossip. Others shade their eyes and peer in the windows, scoping out the new treasures culled from the thrift store next door. Inside the tiny alley house, sales clerk Robin Zank readies the till, then makes her way around the store to cherry pick a

Make ‘em laugh. Make ‘em smile. And, yes, maybe just creep ‘em out a little so they don’t stay in there too long – the bathroom that is. The Community Closet staff takes great pride in their imaginative bathroom designs. Every year they redecorate the bathroom with a new theme. It’s become a bit of a local landmark; people go out of their way to check it out. “We have people who are only here in the summer and they drop by and make a beeline to the back to see what the new ba

Patagonia lovers, rejoice. The Community Closet’s annual Patagonia sale starts Saturday. And this year’s sale is bigger and better than ever before. “We save all the Patagonia items that are donated throughout the year for the February sale and this year we collected 50 boxes,” said Caron Cooper, president and CEO of the Community Closet, adding that the thrift stories spreading the sale out over the four Saturdays in February. “Each Saturday we’ll put out the new contents of