History

Tommie Wingate founded EMS Closet in 2019 with her daughter and grandchildren. Tommie and her daughter, Katherine, and granddaughter, Emma, are all educators with first-hand experience in working with children in poverty.

EMS stands for Emma, Mimi (Tommie), and Smith, Tommie's grandson. This project was a family effort from the start, so it is only fitting that it got a family name.

Tommie and her family and friends worked out of her garage for 3 years, focusing their efforts on Richland County School Districts One and Two, where they work and live.

At the beginning of 2022, Tommie decided it was time to officially become a 501(c)3. The organization moved into our current home at St. John's Episcopal Church a few months later.

Our Purpose

EMS CLOSET exists to provide clothing to children living in poverty in Richland Districts One & Two.

There are local children living in poverty.

10,524 children live in poverty in Richland District One (according to RCSD 1: Final Poverty Report 4/19/2022)

15,736 children live in poverty in Richland District Two (according to RCSD 2:Student demographics)

Lack of clothing is one of the top 10 reasons students miss school.

Having access to adequate clothing and basic necessities helps improve students’ school attendance, social and emotional well-being, behavior, and ultimately their academic outcomes.

Children and teens who are clothing insecure are more likely to endure bullying and drop out of school. Social anxiety and being bullied are also common reasons students avoid school.

Clothing insecurity leads to school absences which impacts a child’s academic success and erodes their self-esteem.

History

Clothing insecurity, or lack of sufficient, clean, seasonal apparel, is a much more serious problem than many people understand. If an individual can’t pay the rent or afford food on the table, basics like underwear, socks, and shoes become luxuries.

Our Purpose

EMS CLOSET exists to provide clothing to children living in poverty in Richland Districts One & Two.

There are local children living in poverty.

Lack of clothing is one of the top 10 reasons students miss school.

3 of 4 basic needs (food, energy, housing) are supported by government programs. Clothing is not.

History

Clothing insecurity, or lack of sufficient, clean, seasonal apparel, is a much more serious problem than many people understand. If an individual can’t pay the rent or afford food on the table, basics like underwear, socks, and shoes become luxuries.

Our Purpose

EMS CLOSET exists to provide clothing to children living in poverty in Richland Districts One & Two.

There are local children living in poverty.

Lack of clothing is one of the top 10 reasons students miss school.

3 of 4 basic needs (food, energy, housing) are supported by government programs. Clothing is not.

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