Ashley Wilson (left) with volunteers Crystal Stone, Ethan Ponder, Jeremy Holley and Brandon Snider spent Thursday unloading stacks of storage totes to get Curt’s Closet ready for summer.
CULLMAN, Ala. – A year has passed since Ashley Wilson opened Curt’s Closet, a local charity to help disadvantaged kids, in the name of her son Curtis Wilson, who died in a tragic automobile accident in 2017. The Tribune talked with Wilson late last week about how things are going; she is working hard on the next chapter of the story.
Standing in an entryway packed with stacks of storage totes recently brought over from the ministry’s storage unit (Yes, that means that Curt’s Closet has more stuff than its closet can hold!), Wilson explained, “Today is season switch, where we move all the winter stuff and make room for the summer items, so that’s what all these totes are. It’s got all the summer items in it that we’ve collected over the last six, seven months.”
Curt’s Closet will reopen this Thursday with regular business hours and days.
How many kids are you helping, now?
“In a typical month, we see an average of a hundred children–75 to 100, but this time of year it picks up. Everybody’s wanting the summer items.”
Get involved
When asked what Curt’s Closet is most in need of these days, Wilson shared, “Volunteers. Yes, Curt’s Closet has grown so much in the past year, it’s impossible for me to do alone. So we’re really pushing for volunteers.
“And the easiest way to get involved is to go to our website curtscloset.org; there’s a volunteer button. Fill out the information, and I’ll send out an email about once a month. If something works for you that month, great, and if not, maybe you can next month. And we just ask an hour or two each month; not much, just a little help.”
“Clothed in Cullman” coming up
On May 4, Curt’s Closet will host “Clothed in Cullman” at the Cullman Civic Center starting at 11 a.m., with lunch at noon. It will include a fashion show. The event will feature an array of silent auction items from numerous donors and event sponsors, as well as door prizes and other goodies. The long list of donors and sponsors includes:
- Abbott Vacation Rentals
- American Girl Doll
- Backstage Boutique
- Barry & Connie Dutton
- Belk
- Birmingham Barons
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama
- Book and Barrel
- Camp St. Bernard
- Carlton's
- Cullman Cosmetic & Family Dentistry Dr. Echols
- Cullman Electric Cooperative
- Cullman-Jefferson Gas
- Cullman Wellness & Aquatic Center
- Dairy Queen
- Deep South Mercantile
- Dixie Duds and Décor
- Doug Doggett Jewelers
- Hilton Garden Inn Gatlinburg
- If the Shoe Fits
- JK Taylor
- Johnny's Bar-B-Q
- Leo Properties
- Log Cabin Pancake House
- Monograms Plus
- Mr. Plumber
- OWA
- Point Mallard
- Rock the South
- Ross Stores
- Six Flags Over Georgia
- Texas Rough Riders
- The Peddler Steakhouse
- Three Pears
- Traditions Bank
- Tre Bellezze
- Village Furniture & Gifts
- Wal-Mart Distribution
- Wearhouse Clothing and Gifts
- What a Girl Wants
- WKUL
- Younique Sophistication Boutique
The lunchtime fashion show will feature outfits from local boutiques, and all featured clothing will be donated to Curt’s Closet.
Tickets are available at Traditions Bank, Monograms Plus, Southern Eats and Curt’s Closet for $20; tickets can be purchased at the door for $25.
The final word
Said Wilson, “I couldn’t do it without the support of this community. They have supported me since day one, and it’s very heart-tugging. Every day I have someone that’s wanting to help in some way, and it’s amazing. I appreciate everyone that has been involved: from volunteers to donations, to monetary donations. It’s amazing.”
Find out more about Curt’s Closet by visiting www.curtscloset.org or www.facebook.com/cw20curtscloset/.
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