Anacortes First Baptist Church’s Clothes Closet Ministry Provides Clothing, Community Support on First, Second, and Fourth Thursdays Each Month.

Volunteers at Anacortes First Baptist Church manage a clothing closet that serves the local community, providing essential clothing items to those in need. This initiative, known as the Clothes Closet Ministry, operates on the first, second, and fourth Thursdays of each month from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. The event is a bustling scene, with 30 to 40 people, including mothers, children, and others—some of whom are without homes—participating each session.

Alice Keates Byer, who runs the ministry, describes the atmosphere as high-energy, with participants eager to find quality clothing. The ministry is supported by a dedicated team of approximately 10 volunteers who sort, wash, and organize donations. The Rev. Eric Malamma estimates that at least 50 people visit the Clothes Closet each session.

The ministry is part of a broader community service effort by the church, which also includes The Kitchen Table, a free community dinner served from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Both initiatives are entirely volunteer-run and funded through donations, not church funds. Malamma highlights the rewarding nature of these efforts, noting the community’s generosity in time and effort to ensure others have clothing.

The Clothes Closet not only serves the local community but also extends its reach by sending donations to other ministries, states, and countries in need. It has provided critical support in emergencies, such as assisting a family after a house fire. The ministry was established in 2013 by retired couple Ted and Leila Meyer and has grown significantly under Byer’s leadership, who has been at the helm for four years. The increased volunteer involvement and word-of-mouth awareness have expanded its impact, reflecting a growing awareness of community needs.

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