ROCHESTER, N.Y. — One of the biggest clothing closets in Rochester has been shut down for weeks after flooding caused thousands of dollars in damages.For 30 years, Matthew’s Closet along Bay Street in Rochester has been a resource for families in one of the City’s poorest neighborhoods.“We were able to help so many people, last year we were a bit over 3,200 people and we gave out almost 60,000 items,” says Regina Cililetti, the former director of Matthew’s Closet.The clothing is free to those in desperate need and inexpensive for everyone else. Back to school time is typically the busiest here, but Matthew’s Closet flooded twice this summer during torrential downpours, it closed suddenly in July and hasn’t reopened since.
Volunteers have been working very hard, packing an entire dumpster with all the stuff that was trashed when the floods happened.“The University of Rochester brought 40 students here to help us, SUNY Brockport brought 30 students, our volunteers from the parish have been tremendously generous with their time and this whole week, we’re going to be working every day all day until we can get everything ready for next week,” says Father Daniel Ruiz of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Parish. Matthew’s Closet is hoping to reopen on Monday, but when it does, it’ll only be for three days a week for a few hours on each of those days.“We’re going through some financial hardship and so part of what’s also happening at this time is that we’re transitioning to a more volunteer based model,” Fr. Ruiz says.Matthew’s Closet is a ministry of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Parish, so Father Ruiz and his pastoral associate will now oversee it.“I knew financially we were struggling, that’s not new, am I surprised that they can’t pay me anymore? No,” Cililetti says. “My concern more is community.” The people that rely on the closet who need more than just clothes.“We were more than just clothes, we were a safe place, if people didn’t need clothes, they just came down to talk,” Cililetti says. “I hope that continues cause there’s not enough safe places in the city.”“I have seen the Rochester community rise up to a challenge many times and so I know that people will say, yes I have some time to go volunteer or I have some extra money I can offer, or some clothing I can bring over so I am trusting in god and in the goodness of people,” Fr. Ruiz says.
For more information on the new hours at Matthew’s Closet, drop-off times and volunteer opportunities, click here.
Free clothes, a safe space, and 30 years of helping families — Rochester’s Matthew’s Closet is fighting to come back after a tough summer WHEC.com.
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