Providing seasonal clothing and safe social spaces to migrant and marginalized teens across New York City.
Across New York City, many organizations do vital work sheltering immigrants and addressing emergency needs. But one gap remains largely unaddressed: access to basic seasonal clothing for teens navigating life in shelters and new communities.
The Teen Closet Project fills that gap — providing warm, clean seasonal clothing to migrant and marginalized teens in NYC, while creating safe social spaces where young people can connect with peers and access community resources.
Curated, size-appropriate bundles of school-ready and everyday clothing delivered free to teens across all five boroughs.
Back-to-school, winter, and summer drives that source high-quality donated items and pair them with teens who need them most.
Free in-person events across NYC where teens choose their own items, connect with peers, and access resources in a supportive space.
Workshops, mentorship connections, and multilingual resource guides helping immigrant and underserved teens build confidence and opportunity.
Free clothing selection, resource tables, food, and community connection. No registration required — just show up.
Drop off clean, gently used teen clothing at our collection partner locations across Brooklyn and Queens.
Serving immigrant teens and families in Queens. Multilingual volunteers on site. Free clothing, resources, and more.
Founded by Hunter Pilaro and Sol Molloy-Chimilio, Teen Closet Project exists to ensure that vulnerable teens in New York City have the clothing they need — and the community support to thrive.
Over 11 million immigrants came to the United States between 2020 and 2025, with more than 3 million arriving in 2023 alone — the largest annual total ever recorded. A significant number of those families came to New York City, drawn by its status as the largest sanctuary city in the United States, which offers protections and support regardless of immigration status.
Organizations like New York Disaster Interfaith Services (NYDIS) do critical work providing shelter and emergency support for newly arrived families. But while housing and emergency needs are being addressed, a significant gap remains: access to basic seasonal clothing for teens spending time in shelters or navigating life in a new city.
“While many organizations focus on shelter and emergency needs, there is almost no one focused on making sure these teens have warm clothes for the winter. That’s the gap we’re here to fill.”
The Teen Closet Project was founded to address exactly that. We provide seasonal clothing to migrant and marginalized teens in New York City, making sure that while they’re navigating life in shelters or new communities, they have warm, clean clothes and feel genuinely cared for.
Beyond clothing, we aim to create safe social spaces where teens can connect with peers and access community resources — helping young people feel supported, included, and empowered during what is often a very challenging transition.
We ensure migrant and marginalized teens have warm, clean clothes during New York City’s harsh fall and winter months — a basic need that too often goes unmet.
Beyond clothing, we create spaces where teens can connect with peers, access community resources, and feel genuinely supported during a challenging transition.
We believe New York must live up to its identity as a sanctuary city — and that means ensuring vulnerable teens have what they need to stay warm, safe, and included.
Every program we run is designed to meet teens where they are — with real resources, real community, and real care.
Our flagship program delivers curated, size-appropriate clothing bundles directly to teens in need across all five boroughs. Each bundle is thoughtfully assembled to include school-ready essentials, everyday wear, and seasonal items.
We work with schools, shelters, community centers, and partner organizations to identify teens who need support and get bundles to them quickly, privately, and with care.
Three times a year — back-to-school in September, winter in November, and summer in June — we run citywide collection drives to source high-quality clothing donations.
Drives are powered by schools, businesses, faith communities, and individual donors. All donations are sorted, cleaned, and matched to teens by size and need.
Our pop-up events are free, in-person gatherings across NYC where teens can shop for free, connect with peers, access resource tables, and simply feel welcomed and celebrated.
Pop-ups rotate monthly through neighborhoods from the South Bronx to East New York to Jackson Heights — no applications, no judgment, just good people and great finds.
Beyond clothing, we connect teens to a broader network of opportunity. Our mentorship program pairs immigrant and underserved youth with mentors who share their background and can help navigate school, careers, and life in New York City.
We also distribute multilingual resource guides covering ESL programs, college prep, mental health support, job training, and legal resources for immigrant youth and families.
There are many ways to show up for NYC youth. Whatever your skills or bandwidth, there’s a place for you at Teen Closet Project.
Join our crew of youth and adult volunteers who sort donations, staff pop-ups, deliver bundles, and help run the day-to-day work of the organization.
Clean, gently used teen clothing is always needed. Drop off at our partner locations across the city, or contact us to arrange a pickup for large donations.
Schools, businesses, nonprofits, and faith communities can host drives, refer teens, co-host pop-ups, or provide in-kind support.
Fill out the form and we’ll be in touch within a few days.
We source seasonal clothing through three main channels. Each plays a different role in keeping our supply consistent and high-quality.
High participation potential, strong community visibility, and easy volunteer recruitment. We work directly with school administrators to organize collection drives.
Email donations@teenclosetproject.org to get started.
NYC’s thrift stores are a consistent source of teen clothing across all five boroughs. We partner with local thrift shops willing to donate or discount inventory for our mission.
Connect us at partnerships@teenclosetproject.org
Churches and faith organizations bring strong community networks, volunteer opportunities, and credibility. We partner with congregations across NYC to host seasonal donation drives.
Reach out at partnerships@teenclosetproject.org
We partner with organizations that share our commitment to NYC youth.
Host drives, connect students to resources, or collaborate on service-learning projects. We work with public schools, charter schools, and universities across NYC.
Support TCP through clothing donations, financial sponsorships, employee volunteer days, or co-branded campaigns. All partners receive recognition and impact reports.
If your organization serves immigrant teens or underserved youth, let’s connect. We can provide clothing support for your clients and co-host community events.
Faith communities have been some of our strongest partners. Host a collection drive, provide space for a pop-up, or mobilize your community to volunteer.
For partnership inquiries: partnerships@teenclosetproject.org
Fill out the form below to request a clothing bundle or connect with our programs. All information is kept strictly private and confidential.
Your contribution directly funds clothing bundles, community pop-ups, and mentorship resources for immigrant and underserved teens across NYC.
Covers a complete hygiene kit for one teen — shampoo, deodorant, toothbrush, and more.
Funds a pair of school-appropriate shoes for a teen who needs them.
Assembles a full clothing bundle: tops, bottoms, and seasonal outerwear for one teen.
Covers supplies and logistics to support one teen at a community pop-up event.
Helps host an entire neighborhood pop-up, serving 20–30 teens in a single day.
Sponsors a full seasonal drive — collection, sorting, and distribution for one month.
Teen Closet Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Donations are tax-deductible. Secure processing.
We’re committed to full transparency. Here’s how every dollar you give supports migrant and marginalized teens across NYC.
Everything you need to know about how Teen Closet Project works — for teens, families, donors, and volunteers.
Still have a question? We’d love to hear from you.
A curated list of free resources for immigrant and underserved youth in New York City — from legal aid to mental health, ESL to college prep.
NYC provides emergency shelter and support services for asylum seekers regardless of immigration status. Call 311 or visit the Office of Asylum Seeker Operations.
Visit site →Provides shelter, disaster preparedness, and coordinated resource support for newly arrived immigrant families and teens across NYC.
Visit site →NYC offers free meals at hundreds of community sites across the city. No documentation or ID required to access food assistance.
Visit site →Free civil legal services for low-income New Yorkers, including immigration cases, housing, and family law. Serves all five boroughs.
Visit site →Free, safe immigration legal help from city-funded providers. Available in many languages. Helps with DACA, asylum, and other immigration matters.
Visit site →The New York Immigration Coalition offers guides, workshops, and resources to help immigrant families understand their legal rights in NYC.
Visit site →The NYC Adult Literacy Program offers free English language classes at sites across all five boroughs, including evening and weekend options.
Visit site →Resources for undocumented and immigrant students navigating college applications, financial aid, and CUNY admissions in New York.
Visit site →NYC public schools offer free after-school tutoring and academic support programs. Contact your school’s guidance counselor to enroll.
Visit site →Call or text 988 anytime for free, confidential mental health crisis support. Available 24/7 in English and Spanish.
Visit site →Free, confidential mental health support for New Yorkers. Call, text, or chat 24/7. Available in 200+ languages. No insurance needed.
Visit site →Provides support services for young people who have experienced trauma, violence, or crisis — including immigrant and refugee youth.
Visit site →We’re always looking to grow this list. If you know of a service that helps immigrant or underserved teens in NYC, let us know.
Whether you have a question, want to partner, or just want to say hello — we’d love to hear from you.
We’re a small, youth-led team and we read every message. Use the form or reach us directly through any of the channels below.
New York City, NY