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Video: Tour of Stephanie's Living Closet conducted by Charlesetta Fletcher.
In 2016, Stephanie Maewether ventured to create a nonprofit store to provide free items such as business attire, coats, warm clothing, and toiletries/accessories to bring dignity to those facing financially difficult living situations. It was known as the Forever Living Clothes Closet. Maewether sadly passed in 2017, but her vision continues with her sister Charlesetta Fletcher who took leadership over the closet. Part of Fletcher's leadership involved applying for and receiving one of Buncombe County's Tipping Point Grants to help expand the scope of the project.
With the help of the grant the now-named Stephanie's Forever Living Closet in honor of Maewhether was able to conduct minor renovations, buy much needed computer equipment, create the ability to expand their message, and improve the quality of the shopping experience for the community.
You can find Stephanie’s Forever Living Closet at the Arthur R. Edington Center at 133 Livingston St. in downtown Asheville.
Tipping Point Grants are small grants worth $5,000 each allocated by Buncombe County to help amplify local efforts to enable a healthier and safer quality of life for our community. They either fuel what is already happening or allow organizations or groups to develop their own local projects that create pathways to greater resiliency in our community.
For more information about the Tipping Point Grant recipients, or if you think you have an idea to make your community better, you can learn more and find the application process at the County’s grant website.