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The Stanly Community Christian Ministry’s Clothing Closet officially reopened Tuesday.

The opening day hours are 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 1324 E. Main St., Albemarle.

The closet, which has been closed since mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic, has a few new restrictions in place due to the pandemic: every shopper is required to wear a mask and only 25 shoppers will be allowed in the store at one time. Donations are also only accepted during store hours.

Clothing and household goods are given periodically to clients who have a referral from the Department of Social Services or SCCM’s Assistance Center. Though referrals are income-based, emergency vouchers can be given any time they are needed.

The clothing closet accounts for 60 percent of SCCM’s annual revenue, said Jenny Clore, development director with SCCM.

Though closing the closet was difficult, Clore said “the food and financial donations have really taken care of what we lost with having to close the clothing closet.”

From mid-March through the end of April, Clore said 253 new families have come to SCCM for help for the first time, which she said is unprecedented. During April, 98,299 pounds of food was donated to SCCM, much higher than the 69,868 pounds of food donated last April.

“‘Thank you’ doesn’t adequately express our gratefulness,” to the community, Clore said.

The closet is open from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday.

Financial donations to SCCM can be mailed to P.O. Box 58, Albemarle, NC 28002, or people can go online at sccminc.org. For more information about the clothing closet, call 704-982-0246.

If people are in need of food, they can call SCCM at 704-982-7915 to schedule an appointment. Food can be dropped off at 506 S. First St., Albemarle.