About the Huskie Closet
The Huskie Closet launched in the spring of 2022, offering cold-weather clothing and men’s and women’s sized casual and career clothing. The closet allows students to shop for free clothing regularly in a location that affirms their dignity. Students can also donate clean, usable clothing that no longer serves them but might be perfect for someone else.
A project of the Center for Nonprofit and NGO Studies, the closet has a clear connection to the center’s mission and vision. It provides many engagement opportunities to the NIU community:
- Students can shop, donate extra clothing and volunteer their time and talent at the closet.
- Faculty and staff can donate funds and clothing and volunteer at the closet.
- Nonprofit and NGO studies classes apply their classroom learning to the real world by volunteering at the closet, developing and evaluating associated programs, and assessing data to aid in closet operations.
- Other academic programs across campus also use the Huskie Closet for hands-on projects that connect the classroom with real-life experience.
Our Interns
The Center for Nonprofit and NGO Studies supports the closet by fundraising to provide two paid, year-long internships, so students can help operate the closet. Our lead intern and merchandising/marketing intern apply the skills they learn in the classroom to managing this nonprofit start-up program.
