I'm Kay Kirby. I'm the Executive Director here at PS I Love You Ministries. We started about 22 years ago when we became foster parents. We were licensed and little did we know, we didn't have any resources available in our area to be able to help provide for the kids that we brought into our home.
So when you come into PS I Love You, one of our goals has been to be able to have a shopping experience that's cost-free for foster families, that they can come in and we provide everything, but they can shop and it not be like they're in a thrift store. So our closet is set up by age and gender. We have a toy room. The kids, that's always their favorite room, is to come to the toy room. They're able to pick out their own toy. We also have a section we always keep up for seasonal items. At Christmas, we have Christmas clothes and fun stuff. We have swimsuits during the summer and Halloween costumes. We always try to provide what they need for each season.
My name is Sarah and my husband and I decided to start fostering really when we first decided to become parents. We heard about PS I Love You pretty much right away because they are, truthfully, the biggest supportive organization for foster families in Spartanburg County.
Truly you walk through the door and you are just greeted by the friendliest, most loving people. It doesn't feel like a closet, it feels like a boutique store! You go in and they've got everything beautiful, everything organized, and they are just following you around saying, "do you need this?" "do you need that?"
And we left with really everything we needed, even a meal to help us get through those first few days. It was just such a huge support, especially for folks who don't have friends or family who are wrapping around them in those early days. PS I Love You steps in and provides so, so much to make that journey so much easier and less alone.
I just remember every time I would walk through the closet, every visit, I would always find myself thinking like, Wow, I can really have this. This is for me to take home. Because it is, it's good quality clothes. It's new or gently used in great condition.
For more information about providing clothing and needed items for the Resource Center, explore these links...
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