If you’ve never heard of the Youth Closet– or you think it’s a second-hand clothing store – you’ll be delighted to learn it’s so much more! The Youth Closet is a 501c(3) nonprofit that began serving its patrons in 2020 and moved to its current EagleVail location in 2022. Though there have been changes throughout that time, its mission remains the same: to relieve the burdens that accompany the joys of parenting, especially in the earliest and most vulnerable stages of life.

Director and founder Rebecca Kanaly is quick to note that everyone is welcome at the Youth Closet, not just people who identify as needing charity. “I want the whole experience of the Youth Closet to be welcoming for people of all walks of life. Donate, volunteer, shop. You are welcome,” Rebecca emphasizes. 

The primary goal of the Youth Closet is to improve maternal, infant and child well-being and mental health by providing emergency and/or ongoing assistance with basic needs. The Youth Closet wants to ensure every Eagle County child starts life healthy, despite their particular situation or barriers to accessing care. Sales pay for 70% of the Youth Closet’s expenses, so donations, grants, and fundraising are needed.

Rebecca Kanaly recently chatted with the Vail Valley Partnership about the niche role the Youth Closet fills in the Eagle River Valley, which many residents aren’t aware of. Yes, you can get gently used clothing for moms and kiddos, along with free (yes, FREE!) books for readers of all ages. But did you know the YC is also an official car seat fit station with certified bilingual technicians, and also provides lactation and feeding support? That’s right. Read on for details on how the Youth Closet supports these incredibly important initiatives.

Car Seat Inspections

The Youth Closet sells used car seats, which require an inspection before a buyer walks out the door with their purchase.

“Often parents say, ‘The hospital will check it before I bring my baby home.’ But a car seat check is much different than a full inspection,” says Rebecca, who loves to have one-on-one conversations with parents about these topics. “Each car seat is different, each baby is different, each car is different,” Rebecca emphasizes. “It’s so rewarding to help.”

Last year, YC sold and performed over 100 car seat inspections. Rebecca notes that, nationally, over 70% of car seats installed have misuse issues. Though not always a life and death installation issue, that’s a large majority of seats that are not fully protecting the children using them. Rebecca also shares that whenever her team installs a car seat, they fill out a form that is then aggregated with others to inform car seat manufacturers on their processes; some of the more recent car seat manufacturing updates are the result of these forms.

“Some parents who have had previous, older children in car seats are shocked when they find out they’ve been doing it wrong after an inspection with our team.  They are very appreciative of the education,” Rebecca says. “And we’ll inspect booster seat installation, too, not just infant car seats.”

Lactation Support

If you think Rebecca is passionate about car seats, wait until you hear her hot take on lactation support, another unique support area the YC covers. The Youth Closet participates in the Eagle County Lactation Collaborative led by Eagle County Healthy Families, providing lactation support services, resources, referrals, and emergency supplies.

“We want to be there for the parents’ journey, whatever they choose, whatever the baby has chosen. If they’re on formula, let’s talk about that. If they want to breastfeed, which has the best outcomes if it is possible, let’s talk about that.” Rebecca knows this is a deeply personal choice for parents and particularly mothers, and she’s here to offer support, not push mothers away from their own goal.

If a mother does want to breastfeed, a breast pump is likely going to be part of the conversation. Pumps are available through insurance or Medicaid, but if a mother doesn’t have that access or has a pumping emergency, secondhand options abound. Rebecca will discuss sanitization, proper use, and other questions moms have, along with ongoing support. “I want them to come back and tell me how it’s going,” Rebecca emphasizes.

Every Wednesday during “Latch & Learn”, a Certified Lactation Counselor is in-store from 12 to 2 p.m. for personal, one-on-one counseling. All lactation supplies are FREE during these sessions as well. These sessions are not the same as the local Mommy and Me group, but a supplemental offering.

What Else?

As mentioned, the YC wants to relieve the inevitable burdens that come with the high highs and low lows of parenting. “If caregivers’ basic needs aren’t met, they aren’t able to properly care for children,” Rebecca says. “Your baby doesn’t care what socioeconomic class you’re from or what your annual income is,” Rebecca shares.

If you need support – emotional, mental, physical, monetary, or otherwise – the Youth Closet is here for you!

Location: 40800 US Highway 6, 2nd Floor, EagleVail
Phone: 303-994-2622

Social Media: Facebook

Donate: coloradogives.org/organization/Youthcloset

Mail: PO Box 9383, Avon, CO  81620