Ribbons of Hope recently awarded Bloom Our Youth, Inc. (d.b.a. Bloom) with a $100,000 grant to fund the mobilization of The Bloom Closet, free clothing resource center for foster children in Georgia. Bloom, a Fayetteville, Georgia-based nonprofit, currently provides services to 4,500 foster children and their foster families in 90 counties through The Bloom Closet program. 

Bloom’s programs for foster children support its mission is to strengthen children in foster care and empower the families who care for them. Bloom’s well-established program, The Bloom Closet, provides free clothing, shoes, toiletries, school supplies, baby gear, and other essentials to foster children currently in DFCS custody. In 2019, The Bloom Closet provided $880,000 worth of free items to foster children in Georgia. 

“Service demand for The Bloom Closet increases by 26% each year,” comments Becky Davenport, Bloom Executive Director, “The program is located in Fayette County, and foster youth living in other counties sometimes face geographic and economic barriers to service. By creating a mobile program, called The Bloom Closet Express, foster youth will be able to gain direct access to free clothing and essential items through delivery via our 20’ mobile store.”

“Ribbons of Hope is proud to support such a wonderful organization,” comments Dana Patton, Ribbons of Hope President. “Through their efforts, Bloom supports our mission of providing hope for women and children in the state of Georgia. We are confident they will be good stewards of our grant and will continue to change lives daily.”