Who We Help

As its name implies, Everyone's Closet is for everyone: all ages, races, and socio-economic classes. We are, however, limited in our scope to people in Manhattan and the surrounding boroughs. Although most of our recipients are from lower socio-economic brackets, many middle class community members also use our closet to prevent financial hardship and promote recycling.

Our donors are empowered to help other community members and conserve valuable resources. Some also donate to honor a loved one who has passed away or as a cathartic way of cleaning house and starting anew.

Depending on whom you ask, between 2.0 and 3.2 million New Yorkers do not have health insurance (Community Service Society and Citizen Action). Many more have insurance without prescription coverage. According to Citizen Action, almost 33% of people under the age of 65 in New York City have no health insurance. Most of these people have limited financial resources, and should they get injured, need a way of obtaining medical equipment quickly and free of charge. In 2003, about one in three low-wage, full-time workers in New York City suffered one or more of the following hardships (Gotham Gazette):

• Their gas, phone, or electricity was turned off because they couldn’t pay the bills
• Used a food bank or pantry to avoid going hungry
• Couldn't pay rent
• Couldn't afford to fill a prescription

About 20% of the full-time workforce has no health insurance and almost 50% of lower-income New Yorkers have no health insurance (The Nation). Having free resources, like medical supplies, helps people stretch their income a little further. Everyone's Closet enables people to take charge of their health needs, even if they have limited financial resources.

As we mentioned before, not all recipients are from the lower socio-economic bracket. According to the Economic Policy Institute, health care costs have increased dramatically for middle income families from 2000 to 2003. Out of pocket health care costs, like co-payments and insurance deductibles, have skyrocketed 33% for married couples with children and 37% for elderly couples. Family premiums have jumped 49% for married couples with children. Medicare part B has increased 29% for elderly couples. As we know, salary increases haven't followed suit; pre-tax income increases were between 3.0% and 5.8% from 2000 to 2003 (Economic Policy Institute).