A little community. A lot to share.
About Kiddos Closet.
Meet Lauren (and Dylan)
Founder of Kiddos Closet
Hi, I’m Lauren Cordero, the founder of Kiddos Closet! and a proud Santa Barbara local! My family has been here for ten generations, and now I’m raising the next. We have Chumash and Spanish roots on one side of our family, and being from here is something we’re proud of.
Growing up here was so fun! I loved horseback riding, volleyball, walking around downtown, and trips to the Channel Islands. Now I get to see little pieces of my childhood in my children’s—at the harbor, at our parks, or eating at Joe’s Cafe. The best part is having so much family and so many friends here to love and support them.
Motherhood has also come with financial struggles I didn’t expect. I know how quickly kids need new clothes and how expensive the everyday things can get. I also know how much it means when someone shares what they have—it’s made a huge difference for my family.
That’s why I started Kiddos Closet! I want families to have a place to take what they need, share what they can, or do both—and feel like they belong exactly as they are.
It started with one family.
A little help can mean a lot.
Kiddos Closet began with a mother’s experience of how quickly children grow—and how difficult it can be to keep up.
When Lauren had her first child, another family in her community passed along the clothes their own little one had outgrown. What they no longer needed became a helping hand for a family just getting started, and Lauren felt the difference that generosity could make.
With her second child, finding the clothes she needed wasn’t as easy. The cost of keeping up became a struggle, and one summer, even basic clothing for her youngest was beyond what she could afford.
That experience stayed with her, alongside the kindness she’d received the first time around. As her own children outgrew their belongings, Lauren saw a chance to pass that kindness on. She began gathering their clothes, toys and everyday essentials, then asked families at her church whether they had anything to share, too.
Kiddos Closet grew from that simple act of looking out for one another. Lauren wanted more families to experience the support hers had received—and to have a place to turn when they needed it.
find new adventures.
A bigger home for a bigger purpose.
From one family’s closet to a community of sharing.
As the collection grew, so did the need for somewhere families could come to find it. Cordero Painting Company offered its warehouse as Kiddos Closet’s primary storage space and storefront, giving those contributions a home and the community a place to gather.
With space to sort donations and arrange everything for browsing, Lauren could begin welcoming families in. Clothes, toys and everyday essentials that other children had outgrown were ready to be chosen again, this time by a new family who could take them home at no cost.
The excitement of the very first visitor gave Lauren fuel to keep building, and she hasn’t been building alone. With every family who shares what they have, gives their time or helps someone find their way here, the Kiddos Closet community keeps that momentum growing.
It takes a village.
Made possible together.
Lauren and her family covered the costs of getting Kiddos Closet started, and that family effort continues today. Alongside Lauren, her fiancé Dylan Valerius, her father William Cordero Jr. and her mother Ashley Cordero help make it possible, joined by a community sharing their time, money and the things their children no longer need.
Behind every visit is time spent getting everything ready. We sort through donations, bring them to the warehouse and organize them by size and use so families can browse more easily. Between shop hours, we’re spreading the word and building relationships that help us reach people who might not yet know we’re here.
By giving our time and working with families and businesses willing to share what they have, we can keep everything free. Every contribution helps us keep that promise.
More than just clothes.
A place to feel understood.
Kiddos Closet is a place for the whole family, and we want your children to feel as welcome here as you do. Come browse together and choose the things that will be useful in your home, whether or not you have anything to pass along.
We know how much it can mean to find something your child needs when you’ve been wondering how to afford it. We want you to leave feeling that you’ve taken care of something for your family, with a little less worry and the reassurance that there’s a community here to support you.
Everything is free, and you don’t need to bring a donation to take something home.
As families get to know one another, we hope those connections become part of what brings them back. Finding clothes or a toy might be the reason for your first visit; having people to talk to, share experiences with and look out for could become just as meaningful.
a brighter tomorrow.
Spread the word.
Help a family find us.
Our community has been generous, and we now have more clothing to share than families coming through our doors. What we need most is help getting the word out, so those clothes can find their way to children who will use them.
If your family could use something, bring the children and come see what’s here. And if you know someone who might appreciate a little help, telling them about Kiddos Closet—or inviting them to come along with you—could be how they find us.
We’d also love to hear from local organizations and businesses that work with families. You may already know people we haven’t been able to reach, and together we can help them discover what’s available. A shared post, a conversation or an introduction can connect one family’s generosity with another family’s needs.
Brighter days.