“If we wouldn’t wear it, we don’t share it.”
By Marta Rose-Thorpe
Katy Pinson launched Save the Closet, a free mobile closet (non-profit organization) for communities affected by natural disasters and individuals in life transition, following Hurricane Michael. Katy moved to Bay County, Florida from Charlotte, North Carolina, in the spring of 2015. As owner/broker of Beach Babes Realty, life was good at the beach and things were going well in her new home. Though she had experienced storms in North Carolina before, nothing could have prepared her for the wrath of Hurricane Michael in October of 2018.
After the storm, she started collecting donations of money and supplies for people who had lost their homes. “We were drowning in huge amounts of clothes,” she says, “though much of what was donated didn’t meet our standards.” Katy became compelled to collect ‘Donations with Dignity’ as she refers to the benchmark she tries to attain. “I knew we could do better, so we decided to set a standard.”
Save the Closet resides at a location on Hutchison Blvd. in Panama City Beach, across from Shipwreck Island, though they have facilitated a series of pop-up stores all over Bay, Gulf, Calhoun, and Jackson Counties, including towns such as Fountain, Callaway, Parker, Panama City, Port St. Joe, Wewahitchka, and several locations in Panama City Beach. In addition, Save the Closet responded to the need following Hurricane Laura in Lake Charles, LA, and made the journey to Alabama following the tornado of 2019. Focused on reaching further, their first pop-up in North Walton County is taking place next month. “The goal is to do these once a month, if possible,” she says.
Save the Closet has helped thousands of people since Hurricane Michael. “We serve communities following natural disasters and individuals going through life transitions,” she shares. In between mobile events and disasters, individuals in need are referred by churches, schools, agencies, or corporations. People are allowed to take what they need for free, and often they are in disbelief when they learn this. “Sometimes they cry, especially in areas where storms hit hard, and the PTSD is very real. ‘Retail Therapy’ is called therapy for a reason – it works!”
Save the Closet partners with Arc of the Bay and other community organizations for volunteers and employees. “People can do community hours while they’re here, plus they can find things they need,” she says. “We hope to keep expanding.” The charity also collaborates with local artists, taking donated items and turning them into wearable art pieces. Beachy Beach Real Estate is a big supporter. “When Katy told me she needed support, we started supporting!” says owner/broker Karen Key Smith. “That’s what you do. This is such a wonderful and important thing she is doing for our community.”
“Financial donations are welcome,” says Katy, “and we need more corporate sponsors.” Donations can be accepted through their Facebook page @savethecloset or website at savethecloset.com (click Donate Now). Clothes may be dropped off Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the main location at the beach at 12202 Hutchison Blvd. across from Shipwreck Island; look for the Save the Closet trailer out front.
