‘Kasey’s Closet’ opens for foster families in Cortland

CORTLAND (WBNG) -- To help foster children and families with necessities, Hair Studio 90 Owner Tandra Dumond has created “Kasey’s Closet.”

“It’s a free closet. You can get clothing items, toys, and toiletries,” said Dumond. “It is all based on donations from the local community, and it is for foster parents and foster children to shop for free. It’s also for biological parents who maybe have lost their children to the system and have regained them back.”

The closet is the first of its kind in Cortland County. Dumond started it after she unexpectedly became a foster mom and went down a rabbit hole to educate herself.

“I got really deep on foster mom TikTok,” she said. “I noticed that all over the place were foster care closets. [Since] I own the salon in Cortland, why not accept some donations? I can close the salon once a month and do the closet.”

This is personal for Dumond as she was in foster care herself. She saw the need first-hand during her time in the system. Now that she is a foster mom, she wants to make a difference.

“Becoming a foster parent has really touched both mine and my husband’s hearts,” she said. “We want to help all the children. There’re so many children and so many foster parents who don’t have a lot of resources and this really helps. Everything’s expensive nowadays and we all need help at some point.”

The closet also pays tribute to someone Dumond lost too soon.

“It’s Kasey’s Closet because I lost my best friend Kasey to an overdose,” Dumond explained. “Her children were very lucky to be placed and adopted through the foster care system as well. It’s very near and dear to my heart. I thought what better way to honor her as well as help the community. That’s what she would’ve done.”

The Cortland Youth Bureau is also helping the cause by providing a space for the closet every month for a more seamless shopping experience for foster families. The grand opening for that is on Dec. 14 and 15 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

If you’d like to drop off donation items, the best days are Tuesdays and Wednesdays. You can stop by the salon on 2 Union St. in Cortland.

For more information, you can visit the “Kasey’s Closet” Facebook group by following this link.