Michigan—Her parents' examples and her own visits to homeless shelters as a child planted a seed of concern for others in Fenton resident Lida Athearn—a seed that has grown into the Livingston Adventist Community Closet, which offers free clothes to families in need.

"My parents were always giving," she said. "I think that rubbed off on me."

Athearn started the program in May, but moved it from the basement of the Livingston Seventh-day Adventist Church to a Hartland Township storefront about four miles east of the church in August.

She said one of her reasons to start the store was to have an activity she could share with her three children, ages five, three, and eight months. Plus, she simply likes to try new things.

"I'm always trying to do something new," she said. "I wanted to teach (my children) about giving to others."

Unlike some social service agencies, Athearn doesn't run intensive background checks on the income or employment status of the people who come into the store. She just asks for name, address, and phone number, and then verifies the address.

If people come in who don't really need the clothes but take them anyway, that's a matter for their own conscience, she said.

"I am not going to play the police," Athearn said. "If people don't need it, that's on them."

The real goal, she said, is to provide a high-quality store and clothing for people who are suffering through tough financial times. She insists that the clothes on the racks are "new or like-new."

"I didn't want a place where people had to sift through junk to find something good," Athearn said. "I wanted a place where people would feel good about shopping."

Donations of clothes are not a problem. In fact, Athearn often gets more than she needs. Donations should be made only by appointment, or during the store's open hours, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Wednesday.

Athearn said she may add another evening of open hours later in the fall.

She emphasized that the store is open to everyone, not just the extremely poor. "You don't have to be destitute," she said. There are limits, though. An individual can only fill one bag per person in his or her household, and can only visit the store once per month.

Athearn is from the Howell area, and briefly attended Howell High School. Aside from the community closet, Athearn works part-time as marketing manager for a nonprofit organization in Fenton called the Eating Disorders and Education Network.

Dan Meisler, reporter, Livingston County Daily Press & Argus, (Reprinted with Permission)

The Livingston Adventist Community Closet is located at 9552 W. Highland Road (M-59) in Hartland, Mich. For more information, call 810-523-8206 or e-mail lacc@charter.net.