A Chance to Assist a Laramie Non-Profit Helping Local Families

Local non-profit and volunteer-run Laramie Foster Closest is hosting a fundraiser at Laramie GM Auto Center Saturday.

The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the GM Auto Center Showroom. They will also be holding a raffle for some prizes every hour.

We spoke with Jennifer Vazqueztell, who runs Laramie Foster Closet, during our ‘Laramie Live on KOWB’ morning show Friday. She filled us in on what’s going on.

“We’re getting ready to do a bake sale and silent auction with a lot of premium goods, and some really exciting giveaways and raffle, as well. It’s all to fundraise and support the ‘Foster Closet,’ and actually, we’re getting ready to build a second unit.”

Vazqueztell is excited about the second unit, so they can help more families.

She and her husband were foster parents for two years, and they saw children come in to situations without some of the basic needs, like clothing, and decided to do something about it.

All the proceeds will also benefit Laramie Foster Closet in becoming a 501(c)3. They have registered with the state of Wyoming, but still need to register with the Internal Revenue Service, which Vazqueztell said, “is quite costly.”

Once that is complete, Laramie Foster Closet could apply for grants and that could assist even more work in the community.

The organization took a cargo container and turned it into a shopping closest environment. They take new and gently-used donations from the community and give them to foster families and foster children in need for free. You can learn more at laramiefostercloset.wordpress.com.