Rhonda Conway grew up and went to school in Waldoboro. But once 18, she left and went south to the University of Miami. And she must have liked the warm weather. She went on to earn her master’s degree in Early Childhood Education. She married and raised two children there. She opened and owned a corporate childcare center. She became a professor. And in all that time, she never felt she was working because she loved what she was doing. In those 30 Miami years, she and her husband Rody sometimes came north to Waldoboro for vacations. They loved it, so when it was time to think about leaving Miami (ostensibly to retire), they chose Waldoboro. But they didn’t exactly retire. Rhonda taught childcare educators in Rockland, and Rody substitute-taught history, his love, at the high school here until his sudden death in 2016. Two years later, in the middle of winter no less, Rhonda was part of the trio that founded Waldoboro’s Free Clothing Closet. Today, this small institution, serving all of Midcoast, is run by twelve volunteers. Doors are open from 10-1:45 on Fridays and Saturdays. Patrons are asked to take only two bags of clothing. And they are instructed to curb visits to once a month so that the Closet can be there for everyone. As for those wishing to donate clothing, the Free Clothing Closet welcomes gently worn, clean and seasonal garments. Right now, the most needed are children’s winter coats, pants and boots. Other things the Closet’s want-list? Someone to write grants! Someone to coordinate all the free clothing efforts in town. And lastly? More volunteers. And young volunteers.
One day I got a call from my dear, dear friend Betsy Wooster: “I want you to come to a meeting with the people in Boothbay who have a free clothing closet.” So, a bunch of us did, and the idea caught fire. And that’s how Betsy, Emmy Trask-Eaton and I became the grandmothers of Waldoboro’s Free Clothing Closet.
Back then, we worked out of a shed that Hammond Lumber had given us. Then one day, Peggy and Ron Davis came to our little shed and asked if we’d come up to the old house on Friendship Street. So, we went over there to take a look. They’d already moved the Food Pantry there, and they wanted to know if we would take the space in the other barn that they’d renovated. We were still in COVID wearing masks, but you could see everyone’s eyes light up over their masks. There were so many rooms! We had so many ideas! And I looked at Peggy and I could see her eyes were smiling broadly, and I said, “We’d love it.”
Then, we learned from someone who was quasi-volunteering that the Christopher Banks store in Augusta was going out of business. They were selling their clothing racks. And that’s when Emmy and Jim Eaton hopped in their truck, drove to Augusta, bought the racks, loaded them up – I think it was a couple of trips – and came back and set them up, hung the clothes on them, and I swear, it looked like a Camden boutique. The person managing the store got curious and drove here to see for herself. She was amazed. She went back and brought down for us all kinds of size tags and separators.
In the beginning, no one knew we were here except Karen-Ann Hagar-Smith (community navigator). She would ask us to put together bags of clothes for the people she was working with. It could be that what was needed was business attire, or clothing for the season or kids jackets or personal hygiene stuff. And we still do that for her because people are still being unhoused. It might be for a family whose home burned and they need clothing. Or for a displaced mom and a teenage son who doesn’t have clothing for winter.
One time, we learned of a mother living over a garage who is raising a son with a prosthetic leg. The people she was renting from wanted to create an AirBnB, or some other kind of upscale rental and the woman and her son had had no place to go. And her son had no summer clothing which we didn’t have then.
So, I went to Walmart and bought a bunch. But the woman didn’t have a car. She didn’t even have a phone. So, Gail Henry, our latest “grandmother” and coordinator and the kind of person who will go anywhere, anytime, delivered it to them.
Like they say, “If you build it, they will come.” Now, when we open at 10, there’s a line out the door. People learn about us through our Facebook page. It’s good because if anyone has any special needs, they can message us privately there. Maybe it’s someone with a disability who needs 4X loose clothing to pull on and off easily. We’ll put together bags of clothing and walk it out to their truck. And as the next season nears, we’ll look for more clothing for them.
There are so many sweet moments. One day a teacher brought in a young man who needed a suit to go to a school dance. We opened a closet for him to try on suits and when he came out, he was so proud. Or maybe it’s a mother discovering that we have the diapers she needs or clothing for her children, or something she’d like for herself. It’s so moving seeing people find what they need. Of course, it’s also so nice when people thank us, which we never expect. In fact, it takes us aback. It means so much to be recognized and appreciated.
But the very best of all? The people who call and ask, “What do you need?” And we might say, “Children’s jackets because it’s not okay that a child doesn’t have a jacket.” And they will come in with a dozen or so of them with the tags still on. These are our angels.
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