Lindsay Giambattista
Lindsay Giambattista began praying about an outreach - some sort of ministry she could participate in - some way to utilize her unique gifts for God’s glory. Besides being an A-student, Lindsay was/is an avid shopper.
So after considerable prayer and debate, the idea was born. Taylor’s Closet would allow girls in foster care to come into a store-like environment and “shop” for whatever clothes they liked - completely free of charge. The idea was just to put a smile on their face for a moment and let them know they weren’t alone.
Taylor’s Closet had its first outreach in early December, 2005. We set up a mini “shop” on the salon-deck of a large yacht in the Pompano Beach Holiday Boat Parade and invited girls from local foster care programs to come by and shop. There were some 30 girls on the cruise that night who were blessed with new clothes, and a handful of parents, kids and program administrators who got to see the love of Christ in action as well.
Since then we’ve seen God bless this ministry in some huge and wonderful ways. In December of 2006, we opened our first permanent “store” for foster girls. Several local businesses have put aside their business agendas to come alongside and help out. One in particular, RCC, designed and paid for the cost to build the store. We’ve had clothing donations from all over the world.
The First Fashion Show
Lindsay Giambattista
Lindsay is the founder of Taylor’s Closet. In 2005, she started the ministry with the intent of simply giving of her own clothes to girls in need. But soon found out her intention and more had been on Gods heart for quite a while. Lindsay is a 17 year old home-schooler, with plans to graduate high school and follow the Lords voice wherever it takes her. She has a heart for giving the love of the Father to un-loved children. Other than that, Lindsay has a passion for creativity and expressing it through many things.
Linda Giambattista
Linda serves as director of Taylor’s Closet, but, more importantly is Lindsay’s mother. Her background is in the retail industry, where she worked for such companies as Guess Watches, Liz Claiborne, Calvin Klein, and Fossil. Linda gave up her career 5 years ago when God called her to home school Lindsay and Justin. She shares the vision and the burden that Lindsay does for providing hope and love to girls in need.
The Advisory Board
We have an outstanding group of girls that serve on our advisory board. These girls meet once a month to brainstorm on how to more effectively run Taylor’s Closet. They were chosen because they share in our vision to provide hope and love to girls in need. They are all close friends to Lindsay and our family, and every girl has a deep relationship with Jesus Christ. Also, our advisory board regularly volunteers working in the store and ministering to the girls that visit Taylor’s Closet.
The Board consists of:
To bring the love of Jesus to girls in need, throughout this country and the world, by providing places for them to shop for clothes - for free.
To build a worldwide community of people and companies who will give of themselves in order to care for girls in need.
To create a network of “stores” where these girls can come in and feel safe, where they can feel special, and where they can encounter the love of Jesus in that place.
To facilitate and empower these “stores” so that they can focus on their primary mission, which is to love-on, and minister-to, every girl who comes there.
* We believe that Jesus has a love and a divine purpose for girls in foster care, and girls in need, in general.
* We believe God has called us to use shopping as a vehicle to bring them into contact with Him.
* We believe that every city where foster kids live is an ideal place to demonstrate God’s deep love for them through Taylor’s Closet.
The 2nd Annual Taylor’s Closet Gala Benefit & Fashion Show
On Saturday, October 18 we got together with about 250 of our closest friends and had the biggest party in Taylor’s Closet’s history. It was unbelievable.
The fashion show was held in a hangar at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (one of our good friends donated it [...]
Can you believe this!!!
Taylor’s Closet is going to be moving into new digs! This whole story is wild. The truth is, its really too much to tell here except for two things:
1) God REALLY has his hand in this ministry. And,
2) He REALLY cares for girls who are in need, at-risk, or just not near [...]
There are lots of ways you can help out and participate. The first thing we would suggest is praying about it. This ministry probably wouldn’t even exist if it weren’t for the fact of prayer. So pray. And listen. God definitely has something to say.
Check out our “Need Sheet” below. It lists some of [...]
Click here to see a list of ways you can help out.
