Expanded Blackfoot foster care closet gives children more room to shop and choose

BLACKFOOT, Idaho (KIFI) — Foster children in eastern Idaho now have more space to shop for clothing, hygiene products, birthday gifts and other essentials following the opening of a new, expanded home for The Village Foster Care Closet in Blackfoot.

The Idaho Foster & Adoptive Parent Association celebrated the grand opening and ribbon cutting of the facility Friday at the Bingham Community Outreach Center.

Children in foster care can visit The Village and choose clothing, shoes, hygiene products, sensory items, birthday gifts and other necessities at no cost.

Organizers say the program is designed to give children a sense of choice during a time when many decisions are being made for them.

"The purpose of The Village is not just to provide items, but to give children in foster care the chance to choose for themselves," said Jacque Burt, president of the Idaho Foster & Adoptive Parent Association. "When children enter care, many of their choices are taken away. At The Village, they have a voice."

The new facility marks a major expansion for The Village, increasing the space available to foster youth from about 1,700 square feet at its previous location to roughly 5,000 to 6,000 square feet of dedicated shopping space.

The new location includes private dressing rooms, a prom attire room and a birthday room stocked with new toys, electronics and other gifts that can be selected by foster parents, social workers and CASA volunteers for children in their care.

The Village is now housed within the Bingham Community Outreach Center, which also includes the Blackfoot Community Dinner Table and Blackfoot Food Bank.

According to the Idaho Foster & Adoptive Parent Association, The Village provides a storefront-style experience where foster children can select items they need free of charge while maintaining a sense of dignity and independence.