Travel with Terri

by Terri Guthrie

Giverny is absolutely gorgeous and a place I never expected to visit, but am so glad I did. What a treat to see the actual gardens and home that inspired this French Impressionist painter’s famous works of art. This is the birthplace of the Impressionist movement!

Painter Claude Monet moved to Giverny in northern France, just 45 miles outside of Paris, after seeing the charming village from a train while traveling to Normandy.

Monet rented this farm in 1883 and moved in with his wife and their eight children. By the time Monet died in 1926, the 86-year-old painter had spent almost half his life in Giverny.

There are many ways to travel to Giverny from Paris – I chose a Fat Tire Bicycle Tour (a Texas Company), and it was a blast! We met near the Eiffel Tower then took a private bus to the beautiful wheat and sunflower fields of Normandy on to the village of Vernon. There, we got our bikes, visited the local market for picnic supplies, and had lunch along the Seine River in a beautiful park. After lunch, we cycled the charming bike path to Giverny. We toured Monet’s house and gardens then leisurely pedaled back along the Seine River to the cemetery where Monet was laid to rest.

After strolling through Monet’s private gardens with thousands of brilliantly colored flowers and water lilies floating on the pond, we toured Monet’s home. It is truly as though you are walking through one of his beloved paintings.

One of my favorite memories was simply looking out a window of Monet’s house. Looking outside to the gardens through the window is literally like a framed painting. It was surreal.

It’s so easy to imagine Claude Monet painting in his gardens. This place is fabulous and truly a feast for the eyes and a dreamy French experience!

by Brooke Ezzo

On January 26th, the Community Clothes Closet organization celebrated its 8th birthday! On that beautiful Sunday afternoon, they opened their doors and welcomed 112 families.

Pictured above is Joanna Johnson (left) and Gwen St Clair (right). Courtesy of Brooke Ezzo.

FUN FACT: “If the average cost per item at a thrift store is $3, and we have distributed 447,373 items,” Gwen exclaimed. “Then we have saved our families over one million dollars.”

If you are new to the area or haven’t heard about Community Clothes Closet (CCC), it is a community-wide Christian outreach with a heart to assist families and individuals in need of new to you free clothing.

Executive Director, Joanna Johnson, started the Closet out of a small room at the Justin Trading Post in 2012. Today, she operates on half an acre and serves hundreds of families weekly.

CCC has been a pillar in our community when it comes to volunteerism and ministry.

Joanna never wanted anyone to feel like they were receiving hand-medowns, and she doesn’t like saying “needy.”

“We designed our building to look like a department store,” Joanna said. “We want it to feel like you’re shopping in your sister’s closet.”

Quickly after CCC began, Joanna knew she needed a partner. Gwen St. Clair was the perfect match and signed on as the Executive Coordinator.

Together, Joanna, Gwen, and their selfless volunteers serve families in 90 surrounding communities. They work with many requests from various individuals, churches, and organizations for help with fire victims, foster parents, disaster events, and volunteers going on mission trips.

“Most of the time these needs are immediate,” Gwen said.

Community Clothes Closet is a non-profit, all-volunteer, faith-based organization. The volunteers are the heart and soul; they come from all walks of life and are influences in the next steps CCC takes with serving the community.

“We are in a unique position to serve more than just our families that come in on Sundays,” Gwen said. “We coordinate with local agencies, churches, elderly services providers, and community groups to identify families that may be in need of assistance.”

CarePortal is an organization that partners with CPS and local churches. CCC provides immediate clothing as well as other items such as baby beds, baby items, and beds for children. CCC provides clothing monthly to a homeless community through Legacy Church in Argyle. They have helped with Hurricane Harvey evacuees. They provide a safe place for women living in safe houses to come do their community service and get free clothing.

to grow and support those who come for a hand-up.

“The atmosphere is honoring people,” Joanna said. “We aren’t giving you our trash, we are giving you the best of our best.”

For the New Year, Joanna and her amazing team look forward to serving even more families, and hosting more events. The 8th Annual Purse Auction will be held in the Saturday after Easter at the Denton County Cowboy Church in Ponder, the proceeds benefitting CCC.

To donate clothing, bring in a trash bag to the Community Clothes Closet at anytime and drop in the marked blue bin. To donate all other items, please come during operating hours.

For hours, volunteering opportunities, and events, visit www.CommunityClothesCloset.net.