Erie County Legislator Frank Todaro recently visited WNY Foster Closet at the Eastern Hills Mall and met with Board Members Erin Richeal, Kara Brody and Cheryl Flick. WNY Foster Closet is a nonprofit organization that began in the basement of Town Line Lutheran Church in Alden with the goal of supplying foster children with basic needs while they are placed in foster homes.

Legislator Todaro also met with Colvin Cleaners President Paul Billoni who donated two full racks of clothing along with a box of hats, gloves and scarves for a total of over 120 garments 

Colvin Cleaners President Paul Billoni said, “Helping children who are in the foster care system is something that I hold near and dear to my heart. Back in 2017 Colvin worked with a group “Luggage for Hope”. When children go from foster home to foster home they often carry their belongings in a plastic garbage bag. They deserve better.  After learning this, we teamed up with Luggage with Hope of WNY collected over 300 suitcases that were cleaned and gifted to foster children. My wife Cyndee and I were very impressed with WNY Foster Closet’s store at the Eastern Hills Mall. It is very organized and Has a quality supply of clothing and other items for foster families to help these children feel like they belong. We very impressed with Cheryl Flick, Erin Richeal and Kara Brody from WNY Foster Closet and I look forward to working with them more in the future. They will be one of the non for Profits we work with and supply clothing to. I wish them an abundance of success as they open their location at the Eastern Hills Mall to help serve those in need.”

Legislator Todaro said, “From the bottom of my heart, I want to send a big thank you to Cheryl, Kara and Erin from WNY Foster Closet. They built this blossoming nonprofit in the basement of a local church in Alden and now they are opening their very own shop inside of the Eastern Hills Mall to help serve even more foster children in the Western New York area. I’d also like to thank Paul and the team at Colvin Cleaners for their donation of clothing and other essential items. Their generosity will help make a difference in many children’s lives.”