ABOUT US
A Community-Driven Act of Generosity
 
The Kindness Closet began in October 2018 with a simple, powerful act of kindness. Neighborhood children in Mooresville, North Carolina raised money through a lemonade stand to build the very first “Kindness Closet,” installed at Academy Street Park. Stocked with soap, shampoo, and basic hygiene essentials, it offered neighbors a dignified way to access what many quietly go without.

What started as a small community effort quickly revealed a much larger, often hidden need.

As the program grew, founder Anne Mautner began to see the profound impact hygiene insecurity has on individuals and families—affecting health, confidence, school attendance, and overall well-being. In response, The Kindness Closet officially became a nonprofit organization in 2019, with a clear mission: to provide consistent access to essential hygiene products, delivered with dignity, kindness, and compassion.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, The Kindness Closet partnered with Mooresville Christian Mission to meet the surge in need and expand its reach during a critical time. As demand continued to grow, so did the organization’s capacity to serve. In October 2024, The Kindness Closet opened its own office and warehouse, allowing for large-scale packing, storage, and distribution of hygiene products across the region.

Today, The Kindness Closet distributes thousands of hygiene products every month through trusted school and community partners. The organization works alongside food banks, schools, and local agencies—filling a vital gap by supplying hygiene essentials that are often overlooked or underfunded.

In 2025 alone, The Kindness Closet distributed:

• 180,000 hygiene products across Western North Carolina in hurricane relief efforts

• 350,000 hygiene products throughout Iredell County via schools, community centers, and partner agencies

Growing programs now focus on unhoused students, early childhood programs, and school-based hygiene access—ensuring that every child has what they need to feel clean, confident, and ready to learn.

From a lemonade stand to a regional nonprofit, The Kindness Closet remains rooted in the same belief it started with access to hygiene is not a luxury—it’s a basic human need, and everyone deserves it.