Since opening in late fall 2021, the Huskie Closet has served nearly 500 students by distributing over 3100 pieces of clothing, keeping an estimated 3k pounds of textiles from landfills. A student-initiated project supported by the Center for Nonprofit and NGO Studies (NNGO), the Huskie Closet serves the NIU community by:
• Meeting emergency clothing needs of students.
• Saving students money by offering free, donated clothing including casual wear, career and interview attire, and outerwear such as winter coats, hats, and boots.
• Reducing environmental waste by recycling clothing instead of clogging landfills.
• Offering volunteer and donation opportunities to students, staff, alumni, and community partners.
What started as a student-led clothing swap has grown into a permanent service on campus -- and we've recently expanded our footprint! Read more about the history of the Huskie Closet here.
The Huskie Closet offers completely free casual and career clothing for all NIU undergraduate and graduate students and relies on donors and volunteers to help keep it running. NNGO classes often complete academic projects around the Closet, giving students the opportunity to apply academic expertise to real-life experiences.
This crowdfunding campaign supports the operational needs of the Closet so two student interns can work with volunteers to keep the space clean, organized, and well-stocked for our guests.
Sign up here to volunteer to see firsthand the difference we are making in the lives of NIU students. You can work behind the scenes sorting and organizing donations or help out when we are open on Tuesdays from 11:30am to 1:00pm or Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4:00pm to 6:00pm during the academic year.
The Huskie Closet is located in the Chick Evans Field House, 1050 Lucinda Avenue, Room 102. Please email huskiecloset@niu.edu if you have any questions.
Join us as a Huskie Closet Supporter. Your $10 gift supports things like cleaning supplies, or buying packages of socks for students in need.
Help us promote the Huskie Closet services and volunteer opportunities. Your gift of $25 helps support essentials to run the Closet like posters and fliers. For your gift, you will receive a Huskie Closet sticker.
Your gift includes a Huskie Closet sticker and supports improvements to the Huskie Closet including organizing supplies like hangers and plastic bins.
Be a Huskie Closet Champion and show off your support with a Huskie Closet magnet and sticker as our thanks. Your gift supports improvements to the Closet including clothing racks and displays to better serve our students.
You are passionate about serving the needs of students and helping the environment at the same time. Your gift helps ensure the Closet is accessible to all by helping fund student interns to run the Closet. We are happy to give you a private tour of the Closet at any time, and you'll get Huskie Closet swag including a sticker, magnet, and key chain with our thanks.