10/21/2026
Yesterday, 11 older children and teens in foster care came to BENCHS for their own private VIP shopping experience. Through our partnership with Plato’s Closet, we were able to offer adult-sized clothing and time for each young person to choose things they loved. I went into the day thinking about what we could give them. I left thinking about how much they had given me.
There were shy smiles over new sweaters and bursts of excitement when someone found something that felt just right. Some browsed quietly, taking everything in. Some carefully folded each piece they touched. One girl didn’t want to shop at all. She simply wanted to sit beside me and talk. So we sat, and for a little while, the clothes could wait. I’m still holding that moment close, the reminder that sometimes the most meaningful thing we can offer is our time and a willingness to listen.
Some young people trusted me with pieces of their lives. Their stories belong to them and will remain private, but I will remember the trust it took to share them. Every one of these young people deserved to feel welcome, to take their time and to receive care without having to earn it. I hope they went home with something they were excited to wear. More than that, I hope they carried home the feeling that they matter to people in this community.
I have lived in this community my whole life. It is home, and I feel a responsibility to help care for the people who call it home alongside me. I keep coming back to a simple belief: if we can do something good, we should. If we have clothing to share or time to sit beside someone, we have somewhere to begin. We may not be able to change everything a young person is facing, but we can help make one day warmer, gentler and full of possibility.
At BENCHS, we spend our days caring for homeless cats and dogs. Yesterday, that same compassion reached young people in our community. I’m thankful our staff could be part of it. I hope they remember those smiles and conversations, and recognize how much good they can do with the opportunities in front of them. I hope we all remember that older children and teenagers need love, stability and belonging just as deeply as younger children do. Growing older does not mean outgrowing the need for someone to show up and stay.
To the foster parents and caregivers who welcomed us into a small part of their lives, thank you. I’m grateful for the care you give in everyday moments, much of it unseen: making room, listening, learning and showing up again the next morning. Thank you for bringing these young people to us and allowing us to spend time with them. And to Plato’s Closet, thank you for helping turn donated clothing into a day filled with choice, connection and joy.
What began as a clothing fundraiser became one of the most meaningful days of my life. When I think about it, I see the carefully folded clothes, the smiles over sweaters and the girl who wanted someone to sit beside her. I am so thankful we had the chance to be there. I hope they felt the love in that room.
Our clothing sale opens to the general public on Friday, October 23, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at BENCHS, 1250 North River Drive in Mankato. There is a $10 cover charge, and all sale items are $1 each. All proceeds benefit the homeless animals at BENCHS. We would be grateful to welcome our neighbors for a day of shopping that helps us continue caring for animals who need this community, too.
— Terri Hanson Estes, Shelter Manager, BENCHS
