Niagara’s Mobile Closet

Our Goal

To provide free gently used/new clothing, toiletries, and other necessities to those less fortunate in the Niagara Region.

We do this by:

Hosting socially distanced events and providing a free outdoor shopping experience.

Making clothing more accessible with kindness and compassion.

Collaborating with community partners to bring our truck to those less fortunate in our area.

Our Story

From 2012 – 2020, Pam Nicholson, owner of Itty Bitty Pie Company was slinging pies off the bakery’s food truck. Along came the pandemic and the food truck industry, like the rest of the world looked a lot different.

Dream It

With no clear future for their food truck, Pam & her friend, Leslie Davenport decided to reinvent the truck. In November 2020, they put the call out for clothing donations to the people of Niagara Region. The response was nothing short of amazing. The idea that clothing donors could help those less fortunate in the area for free, was a win-win situation and was something that many were interested in. Donations came from all over the region.

Build It

The truck was packed with donated secondhand clothing, toiletries, sleeping bags, blankets and other necessities. Pam and Leslie hit the road. They drove around the downtown area of St. Catharines with the purpose of handing out supplies to those in need. They discovered that they did not have to look very far to share what they had on the truck.

Before they knew it, word of a free secondhand clothing truck spread and other organizations were calling to book events for their residents/clients. With growth comes the need for more people to help. Today Niagara’s Mobile Closet is a program associated with Niagara Furniture Bank and has a team of four passionate visionaries and an ever growing roster of dedicated volunteers.

The Shoe Chronicles

Male **Age: 35 **Status: Homeless **Date: June 2021 **Temp: 28 C

Male **Age: 24 **Status: Homeless **Date: Feb 20, 2021 **Temp: - 5 C

Male **Age: 40 **Status: Employed homeowner **Died: Fentanyl Overdose **

Male **Age: 56 **Shoe Size: 12 **Wearing: 7 1/2 **Status: Homeless **

Male **Age: 56 **Shoe Size: 12 **Wearing: 7 1/2 **Status: Homeless **

Female **Age: Approx. 30 **Status: Homeless **Date: Feb 20, 2021 **Temp: -5 C **

Female ** Age: late 30's ** Size: 10 ** Status: Chronically Homeless ** Time: Mid Day **

Female ** Age: 37 ** Status: Homeless ** Need: More supportive footwear

Male **Age: 55 **Status: Market Rent Apt **Can't afford boots

Male (battling cancer) **Age: 55 **Status: Market value rent **Date: Jan 13

Female **Age: 60 **Status: Homeless/Living in car **Date: Jan 13

Female **Age: 36 **Status: Market value rent (can't afford boots) ** Date: Jan 13

Female **Age: 60 **Status: Low income/Market value rent **Date: Jan 13

Female **Age: 24 **Status: Single Mom ** Rent geared to income **

FemaleStatus: Unsheltered (struggles with English) **Need: Wearing two right feet boots, clothing, outerwear