Annabel’s Closet

This Focus Story was generously donated by Pierce Custom Jewelers

by Laura Breen Galante

Annabel’s Closet assists survivors of domestic violence by providing them with furniture and other essential household items they need to start over but can’t afford to buy.

The faith-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit partners with SafeHouse of Seminole and Harbor House of Central Florida to identify local women and children who need help rebuilding their lives in a place of their own.

“Once the families leave the shelter and move into that apartment, they only have what they were able to take with them, which was probably not a whole lot,” says Lori Hutchinson, CEO/president of Annabel’s Closet. “We want to provide them with everything that you and I have at home, things that we take for granted.”

Home Sweet Home 

Thanks to generous supporters and a 17,000-square-foot warehouse to store donations, Annabel’s Closet aims to make these new apartments feel like home. The Oviedo-based organization provides furniture and bedding for the family room and bedrooms and outfits the kitchen and bathrooms. 

A team of volunteers arrives at the new place to unload and assemble the furniture, arranging the pieces where the family prefers. They also unpack tote bags filled with household items and decorate the entire apartment. Everything is provided at no cost to the families, including toys, cribs, and highchairs for the kids.

“Pots and pans, dishes, utensils…right down to the can opener, salt and pepper shakers, and even art on the walls,” says Lori. “And the mom is just overjoyed when she sees everything.”

One volunteer even creates silk flower arrangements to give the apartments a homey feel. To the families – especially the mothers – the donations are priceless.

“She thinks she’s not worthy of anything, and we want to contradict that,” says Lori. “We want to reassure her that she made the right choice in leaving [the abusive situation] and give her confidence that she can do this on her own. We want to make it nice for her and keep her in that space.”

Annabel’s Closet is named after her grandmother, a selfless soul who helped Lori and her mother escape an abusive environment created by Lori’s stepfather. Annabel taught Lori to take care of others, and through this organization, Lori is following in her footsteps. She aims to lighten the burden for women and children coming from domestic violence situations and help them start anew with dignity.

A Beautiful Transformation

The organization’s logo is a blue butterfly, which Lori says was chosen by God. When Lori decided to start Annabel’s Closet, she began seeing butterflies everywhere. 

“I went on a tour of the butterfly conservatory down in Key West,” she says. “When I walked in, a flock of blue butterflies flew over me.”

Lori likens the emergence of a butterfly from a chrysalis to the good things that lie ahead for the families she and her team help.

“They have a beautiful future ahead of them,” she says, “and whatever has happened in the past is in the past.”

Annabel’s Closet is on track to help about 75 families in 2026. The organization accepts donations of furniture and household items as well as financial donations, and it has an Amazon wish list of items that are needed. Drop-offs and pick-ups can be accommodated. All donated items are repaired if needed and cleaned. To learn more about the nonprofit, visit AnnabelsCloset.org.

Pierce Custom Jewelers in Lake Mary is hosting Diamonds Made Clear at 6:00 p.m. Thursday, September 17, and 10 percent of all sales during the event will be donated to Annabel’s Closet. 

To learn more, visit   PierceCustomJewelers.com.