Check Out Maya Ward’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Maya Ward. 

Maya, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My heart for foster care began during childhood, at the influence of my (late) father. He was in social work and worked mostly with adolescents and teens, specifically those who were preparing to “age out” of the foster care system. Growing up, I saw how passionate he was about his work; how invested he was in the kids and their lives. I soon began to understand more about the need and knew that one day I would be involved in the foster care world in some capacity. 

After my husband and I became licensed foster parents in 2017, we were blessed with countless donations of clothing, toys, and other essentials that filled our basement. After initially deciding to hold on to these items, as we would surely need them at some point, I realized that people were constantly in need of these types of items now. I soon joined an online network of foster parents in which we communicated who needed which items and when in an effort to share resources. Friends soon started coming to me when they had child-related items available, asking me to check if any foster parents needed a crib or a certain size of clothing before, they donate to goodwill. The idea of a clothing closet had crossed my mind more than once, as I knew there was nothing in the area specifically geared towards the foster care community. Finally, I decided to take the plunge, devoting a small area in my home to what we soon named Alicia’s Closet (named after our oldest, our daughter Alicia, as she and her brother were adopted from foster care). 

As soon as I announced the idea, the response was overwhelming and donations began pouring in. I made a Facebook page, a simple website, spread the word to our foster care agency and other foster parents, and here we are. We figured this would just be a small, informal clothing closet that I’d continue to run from our home indefinitely, but now (four years later), it has grown in ways I never could have imagined! In addition to the Closet itself, we now also run a foster, adoptive & kinship family support group, mentoring program for former foster youth, and various seasonal events throughout the year to support those who have been affected by foster care right here in our community. 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
As a teacher by trade, I continue to learn so much throughout this journey. There have definitely been struggles along the way in navigating the nonprofit world – from financial struggles to figuring out logistics to learning how to delegate and finding just the right team members who truly understand our mission. However, we have learned so much and I have found that just the right people have been placed in my path. 

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Alicia’s Closet serves children in foster care of all ages and former foster youth. We also extend help to families who are reunifying after children have spent time in foster care, as we are proponents of family preservation (and family restoration) whenever possible. We believe that building relationships and supporting the entire family are integral to the heart of foster care. 

By supplying much-needed items to those who have been affected by foster care, we hope to help create a sense of comfort and normalcy during a very difficult, uncertain time. In the process, we also hope to create genuine connections and provide support to families/caregivers. 

Our clothing closet is available to provide tangible items at no cost; aside from infant-adult sized clothing and shoes, we also offer baby accessories, diapers, wipes, school supplies, books, toys, toiletries, and more. We also run a support group for foster, adoptive & kinship families which meets weekly, along with various events throughout the year. Our Mentoring Program serves teens and youth who have aged out of the foster care system or have been connected with the foster care community. Our program includes group meetings/outings, bi-weekly check-ins, connections to community resources, overall encouragement, guidance, and support. 

Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
We love collaborating with other organizations and connecting with those who want to learn more about how to support the foster care community! 

We have many volunteer opportunities available for groups, families, and individuals. 

We run solely on donations, so both monetary and in-kind donations are much appreciated! We rely on monetary support to sustain our organization and broaden our reach to serve even more families each year! 

In-Kind donations of clothing, shoes, baby accessories, diapers, and much more are also appreciated. 

Learn more by contacting maya@aliciascloset.org, visiting our website (www.aliciascloset.org), and following us on social media for updates! 

Contact Info:

• Email: maya@aliciascloset.org
• Website: www.aliciascloset.org
• Instagram: @aliciascloset_columbus
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/455419161611525/