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Community Resource Center, Soroptimists detail SCOOP Closet that serves about 50 families annually
Summary
Kendall Lara and Soroptimist volunteer Heather McLaughlin described the SCOOP Closet’s anonymous distribution of hygiene and cleaning supplies, volunteer needs and outreach plans including farmers market tables and senior-center deliveries.
Kendall Lara, a staff member at the Community Resource Center, told the Community Services Commission that the center expanded from a family-only service model to assist households across age groups after COVID and now runs programs including a SCOOP Closet that supplies hygiene, cleaning and other basic goods.
"One of our favorite programs is called the SCOOP Closet," Lara said, explaining that the closet helps roughly 50 families each year and that the service is delivered with confidentiality: "They're locked in my drawer... nobody sees it." Lara described adopt-a-family and backpack drives, and estimated that during the height of COVID the program handled approximately $50,000 in donated goods and gift cards. She asked the commission and community for volunteers and noted logistical limits — including inventory control and appointment spacing to preserve anonymity — that make some volunteer tasks difficult.
Heather McLaughlin, representing the local Soroptimists, said the group has been a long-time partner providing storage space and volunteer support and outlined outreach plans including a farmers market table and a raffle to raise funds. "Our SCOOP Closet provides supplies that you can't usually get through other government assistance programs," McLaughlin said, urging residents to donate new items or give by mail (PO Box 282, Benicia) or online. She also described plans to take the program to the senior center and provide delivery service for seniors who cannot travel.
The commission asked about publicity and accessibility; Lara said drives and donation opportunities are posted on social media and sometimes on Amazon wish lists, but added that outreach can miss residents who lack online access. Commissioners noted opportunities to coordinate with other local organizations to promote supplies and volunteer recruitment. Director Dunleavy and commission members said they would consider the program when drafting goals about collaboration and volunteer engagement.
The presentation included practical requests (donations, volunteers) and program details (inventory protocols, capacity for about 50–60 adopt-a-family placements in some years) that commissioners said would inform future grant reporting and outreach planning.
