NEOGA — A Greenup high school student’s mission to help her peers and their families has spread across Cumberland County, now reaching into Neoga, as her goal has always been to reach out beyond her hometown.
Becca Layton, 18, spearheaded “Closet for a Cause” in the fall of 2023 to help families struggling to supply their homes with essentials like household cleaners, shampoo and conditioners, bodywashes, toilet paper and similar items that are not available at traditional social service agencies.
So, collection boxes have been in place around the county, including one at the Neoga Municipal Building, since April 2024 and a second collection box will be placed elsewhere in Neoga this July.
Layton, a 2025 Cumberland High School graduate, came up with the idea as a substitute for her 16th birthday in 2022. She couldn’t identify anything she wanted for her birthday, but she knew others had needs. So instead, the teen asked for donations of household essentials as her birthday gifts and Closet for a Cause was born.
“While there are food pantries and other service groups that provide for those in financial struggle, there is a very large need for hygiene items, laundry soap, cleaning supplies and other essentials that are not offered by traditional ‘gap’ social services,” said Becca Layton, daughter of Chuck Layton and Sara Ruholl.
“This ministry was born out of a consciousness grown from observation and an empathetic drive to fill a need,” she added.
Any family living in Cumberland County can benefit from the donations collected for Closet for a Cause.
Neoga residents can help by donating items on the list of needs. Items being collected in the dropboxes in Neoga for Neoga residents are shampoo, conditioner, men’s and women’s deodorant, men’s and women’s bodywash, feminine hygiene products, toilet paper, laundry detergent, all-purpose cleaner, dish soap, fabric softener, trash bags, toothpaste, tooth brushes, sponges and dish cloths.
Layton said they also collect empty dish soap bottles that are refilled. In addition, monetary donations are being accepted. However, Closet for a Cause is not an established 501©(3).
“Closet for a Cause is a community-driven organization,” explained Becca Layton. “We would like to move the collection boxes every few months and we would like to make donations to different organizations throughout the year. We would like to link with other service groups to make sure we are aware of all areas of need and that we are reaching as many households as possible.”
“If we are made aware of a specific need, we will put out (requests and) ask for those things in a particular month. We use Facebook and the local newspaper (Toledo Democrat) on a regular basis. We will make sure to be pushing out updates more regularly,” she added.
The organization has a Facebook page with the same name.
Neoga residents can benefit from the service by contacting Sara Ruholl at 618-508-3806, Jeff Morrison with the Neoga Community Food Pantry at 217-273-1198, email closetforacause2023@gmail.com or message via Facebook to advise of a specific need. Everything will be kept confidential, Layton said.