For well over a decade, Maxine’s Closet has served the children of this community with school supplies, clothing and more. Organizers and sisters Kristen Bisard and Laurel Sawyer started this endeavor in honor of the late Maxine Martin and have announced their decision to end this program. “While we have truly enjoyed and have been blessed serving in this ministry for the past 16 years, after much careful consideration, we have chosen to discontinue the annual Maxine’s Closet back-to-school event. We feel strongly that it is time to switch gears and serve in other ways, and feel confident that needs will be met through the many backpack/school supply events that are now sprinkled through the community,” Bisard and Sawyer wrote on the Maxine’s Closet Facebook page.
This news also coincides with the announcement that the Shelby United Methodist Church will be closing at the end of this year, which is where the ministry began and where its many donations are housed. Due to this, there will be a Maxine’s Closet Clearance this Saturday, Nov. 2 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Shelby UMC gym, located at 68 E. Third St. in Shelby. This is a free clothing giveaway with both children’s and adult clothing, hats, coats, boots and more items.
Bisard and Sawyer went on in their Facebook post to further explain the origins of Maxine’s Closet and how thankful they are to the community for their support over the years.
“A question that inevitably comes up is, who is Maxine? When we first met her, Maxine, along with her best friend and husband, Rev. Bill Martin, had retired from full-time ministry, and made their home in the Shelby area. We attended church together, and quickly became like family.
“Chances are if you live or lived in the Shelby community, you have been impacted in some way by Bill and Maxine’s volunteer efforts. They were regular, dedicated volunteers at the local library, hospital, church, school, cancer support group, and numerous other endeavors. Maxine would seek students in need whom she could buy clothes, shoes or a coat for. It was never too hard to identify a need, and it made her so happy to quietly help. She never wanted recognition or accolades. She just had a humble desire to serve. She was a role model for those of us young women who had the opportunity to know and learn from her. Sadly, Maxine passed away in 2009, followed by Bill in 2017.
“Around the time of Maxine’s passing, Michigan was experiencing a heavy recession. While chatting on the phone one day, we talked about the challenges families were facing meeting basic needs, with the added stress of back-to-school expenses. We started kicking around ideas of a community clothing exchange, and that night in our parent’s living room, the idea of ‘Maxine’s Closet’ was born in her memory.
“What started as a small grassroots effort with a few friends and family, grew over time. Since then, each year the project changed and grew to include backpacks and school supplies, new packages of socks and undies and community resources. For most years, food distribution was added to the event. Covid happened and clothing was not an option, but we figured out how to operate as a drive-thru event. We decided the drive-thru was pretty efficient, and we opted to adopt that format for good.
“Families had come to rely on the project. The record attendance was in 2023, with nearly 800 children served from the surrounding area. This was only possible with the help of the many donors who partnered with us to bring the program to local families.
“Funding was provided through grants, businesses, churches, community organizations, and individual donors. Volunteers have come in the form of sports teams (especially Shelby’s volleyball program!), church groups, 4-H participants, scouts, and individuals, including lots of friends and family. Some volunteers have been with us each and every year. We are especially blessed to have had Bill and Maxine’s children, who travel across the state to join us, help in the effort each year.
“We truly appreciate those who shared the vision and came along side to support us in big and small ways over the years. The love and spirit of Maxine will live on in those of us who knew and loved her. On behalf of area kids and families, thank you all so much! We are so grateful!”
