The Giving Closet Project, a nonprofit based in Northeast Florida, is celebrating nine years of service to students and families in need. Founded in 2016 by Jennifer Smith, a former public school teacher, the organization has grown from a grassroots idea into a regional support network serving over 18,000 students across Northeast and South Florida.

The Giving Closet Project has quietly become a safety net for thousands of Jacksonville students facing homelessness and housing insecurity. But after losing $150,000 in state funding through Gov. Ron DeSantis’ budget vetoes, the organization is now leaning heavily on the community to survive.