Mrs. Dorsey’s Clothes Closet was founded in 1983 by Joan Dorsey, whose compassion and keen awareness of community needs led her to take action. After recognizing that many families and individuals in the area lacked access to adequate clothing during times of hardship, Joan partnered with her home church, First United Methodist Church (FUMC), along with several other local congregations, to establish a small clothing closet in the basement of FUMC.
From the very beginning—and continuing to this day—the mission of the Clothes Closet has been simple and heartfelt: to provide good-quality donated clothing to individuals and families in need throughout the Roanoke Valley. As the ministry grew to meet increasing demand, the Clothes Closet moved several times, finding temporary homes in various churches and community locations, including Chapman Street and South Colorado Street in Salem, before settling into its current home on Apperson Drive.
In 2014, the Clothes Closet became an official ministry of Salem Area Ministries (SAM). This partnership was a natural fit, complementing SAM’s existing programs that address basic needs in our community, including school pantries, children’s feeding programs, school gardens, and other student support initiatives.
Over the years, the ministry has been known by several names, including the Salem Community Clothes Closet. In 2015, when the organization relocated to its South Colorado Street facility, the name was intentionally changed back to Mrs. Dorsey’s Clothes Closet to honor Joan Dorsey and her lifelong commitment to serving others. Her vision extended beyond clothing; Joan played a pivotal role in launching other community efforts to meet basic needs, including what is now known as Family Promise and SAM’s Summer Feed and Read Program.
Joan Dorsey passed away in 2016, but her legacy of compassion, service, and faith lives on. We are honored to continue her work by providing dignity, care, and essential clothing to families and individuals facing hardship in our region—just as Joan envisioned more than four decades ago.