Debbie Kinder shares the story of starting Kinder’s Closet Ostomy Pantry

I talk with Debbie Kinder who runs Kinder’s Closet Ostomy Pantry. Debbie explains that the pantry is a nonprofit that provides ostomy supplies to people with limited income or no insurance. She says people can find them through their website, Facebook, or by calling United Way’s 211 line. Debbie started the pantry after her own experience living with an ostomy and meeting others who needed help. She had worked as a social worker, and when she retired she faced the same struggles her clients did. That experience led her to start the pantry in 2016 and it has been growing ever since.

Debbie says the pantry now serves people all over the United States. They provide pouches, flanges, paste, barrier strips, and other supplies. She explains that insurance only covers so much and the cost for a full set of supplies can run between sixty and eighty five dollars, with items lasting only a few days. For many people, that cost is a barrier. The pantry provides supplies to anyone who needs them, only asking for help with postage or a small local convenience fee that goes back into keeping the pantry running.

Debbie shares that the need is great and the pantry has outgrown its space. They are looking for a climate controlled storage building and more board members. She says young professionals in particular should consider serving because it is a way to get involved in the community. She describes how humbling it is when people come in desperate for help, sometimes using makeshift bags because they cannot afford supplies. For those people, having access to the pantry means everything.

I close the conversation by encouraging anyone with space or interest in board service to reach out. Debbie’s work shows how personal challenges can be turned into service for others, and how one idea can continue to grow and help people in need.