My Sister’s Closet asks for HVAC funding as it readies owned client-services building

Sandy Keller, founder and executive director of My Sister’s Closet, presented the organization’s capital plan to purchase and outfit a new client-services building and requested Jack Hopkins support for a commercial HVAC system.

Keller said My Sister’s Closet serves predominantly very low-income women, often single-headed households, and that the organization has historically paired client services with a boutique that self-funds roughly 80% of services. She told the committee the group has served more than 4,000 women to date and believes the new, more-visible location (at West 2nd and Patterson) could increase annual foot traffic and program reach.

Keller said owning the building would support long-term sustainability and allow the group to reinvest funds into services rather than rent; she noted the current lease is about $52,000 a year and that the new site would let the organization expand workshops, training and mentoring programs. Committee members suggested exploring energy-efficiency grant matches and local contractor use for HVAC work.

The committee thanked Keller for the detailed presentation; they took no action during the meeting.