Letter to the Editor: Dove House

The Dove House Closet Is More Than Clothing

From Carolyn Lewis, Port Townsend

For the past three years, I have volunteered to run the Dove House Closet, and during that time, I have come to understand just how important this small program is to some of the most vulnerable members of our community.

The Closet provides free clothing to people who are unhoused, marginally housed, or simply struggling to make ends meet. But after three years, I can tell you that what happens there is about much more than clothes.

I have seen people come through our doors needing a warm coat, dry shoes, clean socks, or clothes for a job interview. I have seen how something as simple as being able to choose a shirt or jacket that you actually like can make a difference in how you feel about yourself. When so many choices have been taken away from you, having the opportunity to choose something for yourself matters. Just this past week, we received a large donation of clothing from the husband of a woman who recently passed. There were tears in his eyes as he shared with me that his wife would have wanted her things to go to a good cause, which is why he chose the Dove House Closet.

One of the things I have also learned is that there is no single picture of what housing insecurity looks like. Some of the people we serve are living outside. Others are sleeping in cars, staying temporarily with friends or family, or living in situations that are precarious and could change at any moment. Others have housing but very little money left after paying for rent, food and other necessities.

They are our neighbors.

The generosity of the Port Townsend community makes the Closet possible. People donate clothing they no longer need, and those donations go directly into the hands of people who do need them. It is a simple idea, but I have watched it work week after week for three years. An added benefit is that we give donated clothing a second chance, which helps keep it from going into the landfills. 

I have also learned that dignity is just as important as generosity. The Dove House Closet isn't about giving people whatever happens to be available. We try to create a welcoming place for the hundreds of people we serve where people can look, choose and find things that work for them without judgment.

We cannot solve homelessness or the shortage of affordable housing with a clothing closet. But we can make someone's day a little easier. We can help someone stay warm. We can help someone walk into a job interview feeling prepared. And perhaps most importantly, we can let someone know that they are seen and that they are part of this community.

After three years of volunteering at the Dove House Closet, I believe that matters enormously.