BEHIND THE B-ROLL ONLINE

Lorraine Estrada says God told her to start Randy’s Closet, a non-profit with the mission to help needy children in Fresno.

It all started when Estrada’s first husband passed away tragically of cancer.

The two had always shared a love for charity through their church, Cornerstone Church on Fulton and Calaveras street in Fresno.

“He was a giver and he always loved giving to his community, and so Randy’s Closet is very close to my heart,” Estrada said.

After Randy’s passing, Estrada continued to volunteer and saw the need at Central and Fresno Unified to help children in need of clothes.

According to Fresno Unified Homeless and Foster District Liaison, Tumani Heights, the need there are over 500 families who have been identified in Fresno Unified as homeless.

The need students in these families have for clean clothes is greater than most people know according to Heights.

“We’re talking about peer interaction…to have name brand clothes and backpacks just like all the other kids, it’s affects a child’s confidence and ability to show up academically.”

And so, a partnership was made between Lorraine Estrada and the Fresno Unified and Central Unified school Districts.

“She really did everything, she solicited a building, all I had to do was send her the people,” Heights said.

Estrada packed an enormous collection of clothes into a room at La Hacienda and 99.

There, she organized them and began setting appointments based on the children referrred to her by the school districts.

Each child who visited Randy’s Closet was given 30 minutes to themeselves to protect their annonymity and prevent teasing.

During those 30 minutes each child picks out three free outfits from head to toe and writes on a paper leaf that Estrada puts on a mural of a tree at Randy’s Closet.

She says she and her volunteers at the closet pray over the tree for all of the children who visit.

Though Estrada is proud of everything she’s been able to accomplish, she says that the only thing left is to expand so that she can better help the children of Fresno.