I was so thankful to be able to get new clothes for my kids & for myself & my mother in law as well from the Closet of Living Hope. Money has been tight & it’s been a hard situation being a young mother with 3 small kids. My husband works really hard and he was out of work for a few months because he fractured 3 of his toes.. We can’t afford to buy new clothes for all of them & living in South Florida is extremely expensive so we’re planning on moving north. We were able to even find winter coats to bring with us when we move which was nice and even a bit surprising considering we live in Miami. I was able to get several new bras and I really needed one because I’d been using 2 of the same bras for more than 3 years. We got several bags of clothes & shoes & even a new purse. Marian and the ladies were very kind and patient with us & even kept my 3 year old distracted with toys while we looked through containers of clothes. I’m so thankful for this blessing & these kind hearted souls for the help. Homestead & FL city needed an organization like this so bad because there’s so many here that need help. Many people throw stuff away in the trash & take their stuff to Goodwill where they resell things for much more than it’s worth. It makes it hard for people to be able to keep up especially with the way the economy is right now. It makes my heart happy to know there are good people in the world that do help other people that need it. It truly does give us living hope to be able to have the necessities we need to keep moving forward each day.. thank you all & thank you God for this organization & the beautiful people who run it! ❤️
Closet of living hope has helped my family and I so much this past year. We’re very grateful and thankful that they were there when we need help because financially things have been so hard that we weren’t able to afford anything else.
Closet of Living Hope is definitely a special blessing within our community providing individuals as well as families with a variety of items to meet their needs. All the volunteers go the extra mile and the founder/owner has a heart of gold ❤️
Thanks to the generosity, kindness and support of the Closet of the Living Hope. I was able to obtain beautiful clothing, toys and so much more for my grandchildren who I care for. By assisting me with these items and basic essentials it has enabled me to put the funds elsewhere. The monies I would have had spent on those items enabled me to keep them in a safe, happy healthy home where they are so loved. Many blessings to everyone at at The Closet of Living Hope.
My name is Rosaura Fernandez and I was referred to a Closet of Living Hope by another homeless woman at Chapman Partnership South to Closet Living Hope. Prior to Chapman I was living at a domestic violence shelter called SafeSpace Empowerment Center. Domestic Violence is what lead me to my homelessness.
My mother passed away in 2023, and my family chose their vices over love, unity in order to keep this family alive. My father was hurting me physically after Camillus set us up in an apartment, I reported to Camillus and they did nothing. I would stand up to him when he would be gone for 2 days, out drinking and doing drugs. I would care care for my sister who's just a year older than me but her mental health condition is a little worse than mine. He started to hurt me and prevented me from leaving the apartment. I lived in fear and my sister chose herself over helping me plenty of times. I have an older sister and nephew that lived elsewhere and they were aware of the physical abuse. I would not talk to them, I felt I had to fight for their love and I felt empty. I was kicked out by police, my oldest took me in, she fed for 2 days, and started to treat me different after she ssked for a favor to pay her warehouse fee and I helped her. She wanted me out of there.
She stayed for 2 nights, making noise, cleaning and organizing. Speaking loudly, all of it affecting mentally, feeling like bullets to my brain, I felt her doing it on purpose to hurt me.
Her and her son together beat me and called the police. Told them I was schizophrenic, I was taken to Hialeah hospital and transfered to Crisis, they would not take me in due to just anxiety. They sent me to mother Theresa's, it was around the corner. I had 2 duffle bags, I stayed there for almost a week. From there I went to SafeSpace empowerment center the dv shelter. Then finally Chapman.
I was given them number to a Closet of Living Hope.
I had sent a message to the number I was provided with that I was in need of clothing while living at Chapman January 2025-April 2025.
I have agoraphobia and struggled to leave Chapman. Prior to Chapman I was a DV shelter that wrongfully transitioned me to Chapman. I should've been transitioned to my own place or a shelter that specializes and focuses on mental health actively, and PTSD recovery. Like Lotus House. Chapman referred as a cold weather intake. NOT a DV transition. No one at Chapman knew where I came from and my reasoning of homelessness and what's happening to me mentally.
I had a psychotic episode, the stress of it all built up and I was terrified of being alone. I was kicked out of Chapman. I stayed in Jackson Behavioral psych for 4 days. From there I was referred to an ILF, some independent living residence where I was paying 900$ per month, the room is shared with bunk beds. I'm grateful I'm not in the streets but the transition of it all terrified me.
Everyone is female and there are other rooms with bunk beds as well. I did not sleep on a bunk, I had a twin bed to a corner. I suffer from ADHD, depression, anxiety, and insomnia.
As an introverted female with mental health issues that ends up at an ILF would clearly have issues mental health wise sharing a room with an individual that is bipolar and it is aggressive and confusing. I kept my distance from her after the last time she yelled. I felt my brain was taking bullet hits every time she yelled.
One day I woke up crying because this is too much, I have no family and no friends to talk to and I am scared of being here. I don't understand what an ILF is and why I have to take my meds infront of another individual that lives there and she acts witness. I sign a book with name and time I took my medicine. No one explained anything what this is.
Prior to this day I was talking walks but it's not enough. I messaged Marian from Closet of Living Hope, I told her I messaged her when I was at Chapman and I was afraid to leave. I updated her that I was living at an ILF and it was expensive. I receive SSA retirement, grateful I'm able to pay for it.
Marian was kind enough to pay for my Uber to Closet of Living Hope and she paid for Uber back to the ILF. I expressed how sad and scared I was living there, I updated her as to what's happened in my life since I last messaged in Chapman.
expressed her how sad and scared I was.
I needed a major change and I needed leave that residence at least for a few hours. I wanted to feel good about myself in some way despite how crappy everything else was. I took my time looking through clothing, she had food that was free displayed shelves and I took with me. I took my time looking through the clothing and the staff was helping me as well. They were all really nice.
I needed to sit outside for a bit for some air, I was really sweaty from looking through the clothing and trying it on. Marian came outside and gave me water, a protein shake, and something to eat. I explained to her that in ILFS they can't merge certain individuals with opposing mental health issues that clash and can worsen within the same rooms.
She then referred me to a vocational rehabilitation center, and later that evening she sent me a screenshot of a room for rent for 750$ and the owner was looking for a female individual to rent it out too. I called the owner the next morning, I went to see it the same day, and I moved that same day.
Individuals like you Marian are what this world needs. Empathy in its purest and kindest form. I have been to 4 shelters and no one has expressed her level kindness and concern for ones safety. Thank you so much for helping me, I feel a lot safer and my mind will be able to recover in this tranquil environment.
Thank you so much, God bless.
Words are not enough to express my gratitude with "Closet of the Living Hope” this organization is doing so much for our community that is Guided by Christian values, this non-profit organization goes above and beyond to help those in need. And a lot of families like mine found relief having a place where we can get the stuffs that we need for our household at not cost, Their commitment to making a positive impact is evident in the countless lives they touch through their initiative and also the events that they hold, The owner's generosity sets an inspiring example for us all. Closet of the Living Hope truly embodies the spirit of giving and is a vital asset to our community.
What Closet of Living Hope is doing is amazing for the community. I'm so grateful for them getting my baby & I all the essentials we needed. They didn't hesistate to help and really want to see you succeed.
This is an incredible organization with a great heart full of love committed to our community, they have been a great blessing for us and our children, they are like angels that God put on LSF Miami Bridge, always willing to help and support us with donations of clothes, shoes, and making events on special days how Valentine's Day, they brought to our children activities gifts, food, but above all a life lesson, showing together with their whole families and volunteers, showing that we are not alone, giving hope to the most vulnerable of our community, and also they already have the next activity scheduled with us for Easter, we are so grateful to have them on our mission with serving young people and families
They are truly inspiring and doing a huge service to the community. I was blessed to find out about them and they were active in finding resources for my baby and I. They helped greatly with must needed items in a time of need. I am grateful for how they helped us.
Closet of living hope has been a blessing in the community for all since they started with this wonderful project of giving. They are a passionate team that teaches the virtue of giving and sharing with those in need. I’ve had the privilege to participate in some of the events and donation organization set ups. I leave so inspired knowing there’s a service for the community as powerful and as selfless as they are. Thank you Closet of Living Hope.
We recently did an event which brought together a number of community organizations to serve families in our area. Closet of Living Hope was one of those organizations. They came with case after case of clothing, clean, folded, organized by size, hauled in by dedicated volunteers. They set up a rack for shoes to be lined up on. They put beautiful pieces on manikins. They transformed their area and conveyed the feel of shopping at a store. People gathered to go through their treasures. No one hesitated because all were invited. So many people were blessed. All witnessed living hope in action.
I was a homeless pregnant women with a 2year old . Only 21 these people are not my friends they are my church family they help me a long way in my journey with food cloths baby supplies bed and much more . I can’t thank you guys enough this feel like a dream . Who would’ve thought someone could be this kind and good to me and my kids .
The heart behind this ministry is profound. The deep desire to serve the community, and to love them, is seen consistently in every aspect of the Closet of Living Hope and in those who serve there. They have blessed countless families by providing much needed clothing, and they serve joyfully and tirelessly those in their community. I am beyond grateful for this ministry and those called to lead it.
This truly is: Closet of Living Hope.
Jorge Alessandri
Miami-Dade FCPO/FCFR President
Ret. Master Sergeant, Miami Beach PD.
“I was naked and you clothed me…”
Matthew 25:36a
This ministry has been such a blessing to our community. The way they love people is evident from how the clothing is handled and displayed with care, creating an enjoyable “shopping” experience that affirms the uniqueness and dignity of each person they serve. Praise God for The Closet of Living Hope!
Pastor Mike Babst
Radiant Christian Community
As our school was planning a grant funded trip to Tallahassee, several students shared with me that they wanted to go but couldn't afford warm jackets needed in colder weather. It was then I heard about the work of Closet of Living Hope and shared our situation with Marian. Closet of Living Hope then supplied every student attending with a warm, high quality coat free of charge so no one felt singled out. Thank you for helping out our families while respecting their dignity, along with being a faith-based organization invested in the community at large.