A Closet Full of Hope

by Jeannine Gage

In 2012, Lori Hutchinson had a dream she could not ignore, even though she tried.

“It was very vivid,” recalls Lori, a Central Florida native and Realtor. “God basically told me that he wanted me to do a nonprofit. I respectfully declined. I told him, ‘My plate’s kind of full.’”

Yet the calling persisted. Through a series of small, steady nudges that included conversations, opportunities, and a Bible study with other moms, the vision for her nonprofit became clear. By 2013, Lori had created Annabel’s Closet.

Today, the Oviedo-based organization furnishes apartments for women and children escaping domestic violence in Seminole and Orange counties. What began with a single storage unit and the use of Lori’s SUV and her husband’s truck has grown into a 17,000-square-foot warehouse operation serving roughly 75 families a year.

Walking the Same Path 

Lori’s passion for helping survivors of domestic violence is deeply personal. Her biological father left their family before her first birthday. Her mother remarried when Lori was four, and not long after, her stepfather began abusing her physically, sexually, and emotionally.

When she was about nine or 10 years old, Lori told her mother about the abuse. It took years for them to break free. As with many women in similar situations, a lack of resources complicated an escape.

“A lot of the reasons women stay is financial,” says Lori. “I understand that firsthand.”

Eventually, with help from their extended family, she and her mother were able to leave the abusive environment. Lori never forgot what it feels like to live in fear, or what it’s like to have support from others.

“God is taking what happened to me – the bad – and turning it for good,” she says. “I can stand in front of these moms and say, ‘It’s going to be okay. I walked your path.’”

It was only later in life that Lori learned her mom had also experienced abuse as a child. That revelation made her even more resolved to help other women escape the generational cycle of abuse.

Lori chose to name her organization after her grandmother, Annabel, who was a steady presence and source of love during those difficult years.

“She was my rock,” says Lori. “She showed me what it was to give back and be selfless.”

Annabel’s Closet partners primarily with SafeHouse of Seminole and Harbor House of Central Florida to identify mothers who need help. When a family is preparing to transition from shelter to independent housing, caseworkers contact Lori’s team. After a needs assessment, her volunteers get to work.

In the organization’s early days, families were allowed to choose two rooms to be furnished. Now, thanks to community support, Annabel’s Closet can fully furnish entire apartments that have up to three bedrooms. Items provided include beds, sofas, dining tables, kitchenware, linens, shower curtains, and even small appliances, dishware, and décor.

“Our goal is to give them everything from the ground up,” says Lori.

Feels Like Home

Melissa Hunt, a single mother of two, says the help she received from Annabel’s Closet greatly improved her family’s quality of life.

After losing her job and enduring unsafe living conditions, including water damage, rodents, and mold, Melissa moved into a new apartment with little more than hope.

“Within a week of calling Annabel’s Closet, I had everything,” she says. “It felt like Christmas.”

Her sons, ages 17 and 13, received beds, mattresses, pillows, and sheets. The family was also given a sofa, tables, kitchen supplies, and décor.

“Getting the kitchen table was the best part,” says Melissa. “After almost a year of not being able to use our kitchen, we could eat together again. That’s when it felt like home.”

Annabel’s Closet operates with two part-time staff members, and the rest of the work is fueled by volunteers. Teams from local churches, corporate groups, and other organizations regularly lend helping hands. 

Most of the furnishings are donated by local residents, with home staging companies and design firms also contributing gently used pieces.

Lori views her organization as a vital piece of a larger support system for survivors of domestic violence.

“When a mom walks into an apartment and sees it fully furnished, sees beds for her children – that’s dignity,” says Lori. “That’s hope.”