How did we get here? The simple answer: through God’s grace and by the prayers of a whole lot of people who love St. Tikhon’s and our students.

This thing that is becoming St. Olga’s Closet the non-profit began well before my time at the seminary, in a room where people would leave unneeded clothes and take something pre-loved for themselves or their children. That morphed into clothing exchanges in the gym (now the convocation hall) where families would gather once or twice per year and peruse the wares others had brought to share. These events grew … and outgrew the space. There was no place at the seminary to store the donations of coats and baby clothes that had been given. These events grew from love of one another and from the recognition that students who don’t have to worry about clothing and feeding their families will be able to focus better on their studies. Needs were and are greater than just the one event per semester. The donations were moved to an administrator’s house, and clothes and other goods were available during open house events and by appointment year-round. A child had a growth spurt? There’s a baby on the way? From Texas and don’t have a winter coat? Come and get the goods!

But a basement room also isn’t enough, and the needs are great and constant. The current group of people who have been managing the donations will not be around forever. Seminarians and families will always need clothing, food, and emergency funds. What better way to ensure that students can be supported in perpetuity than to establish an organization dedicated to helping them?

So here we are, a newly formed non-profit, trying to figure out the legal and financial ropes, on the verge of purchasing a 130ish-year-old former Methodist church to house this ministry. Please pray for this endeavor and our crazy souls!

How It Started