When we arrived in Sudbury a year ago as international students at Laurentian University, it was our first time stepping foot in North America.
Everything felt unfamiliar: the language, the culture, even how people greeted each other. Like many newcomers, we had the same quiet questions: What kind of place is this? Will we belong here? Can we truly contribute?
Over time, especially through our experience at The Closet Share, we found some of those answers. Sudbury doesn’t just welcome newcomers; it quietly and unexpectedly makes space for us, weaving us into its fabric in deeply human ways.
The Closet Share is a local non-profit that provides affordable clothing to people across Sudbury. It’s powered almost entirely by volunteers, including Melissa Porter, the president and one of the founders of the service. In just two years, 68 volunteers from more than 15 countries joined its ranks, including international students, refugees, local parents and even children.
As volunteers, we helped sort, wash and distribute donated clothing. More importantly, we became part of a living, breathing community. We shared languages and laughter. We listened, learned and found a connection.
Volunteering here, we saw how this place brings people together. However, we wanted to know what it all looks like through the eyes of someone who’s always called Sudbury home.
To find out, we sat down with founder Melissa Porter to ask her what diversity means to her and what it looks like in practice.
Q. Can you tell us more about your volunteers? Who are they, where they come from and what roles they typically take on?
A: We have 68 volunteers from around the world: China, India, Japan, Nigeria, Kenya, Chile, Peru, and more. In fact, over 30 languages are spoken here. Our team includes high school students, college interns, refugee families, newcomers who just arrived last week, and long-time Sudburians. One family of four, a mother, a father, and their twin daughters who volunteer as a unit. Just recently, we welcomed our first Indigenous volunteer. So, it’s like a mini United Nations in here! Our youngest volunteer started coming here when she was just two weeks old. We call her the Closet Share baby. Then there’s Addison, who’s only seven but shows up every day with her mom. She knows how to sort clothes, do laundry, deliver orders and even train new volunteers. We always joke that she’ll run the place one day. Our oldest volunteer is in her early 60s. Here, everyone helps out, from newborns to grandparents.
Q. When you first started the Closet Share, did you expect it to become such a diverse and inclusive place? What inspired you to build it this way?
A: To be honest, I never planned it this way. I started The Closet Share just as a hobby. It was very unexpected. I didn’t expect it to grow into a movement, especially one built entirely by volunteers. But everything changed in one moment. Back when I was still running the project out of my house, a family from Chile came to pick up clothes in the middle of winter. I was outside in a t-shirt, as I usually was. It didn’t feel that cold to me, but the mother was bundled up in a huge winter coat. The mother didn’t speak English, so she had her young son translate. She asked her son to tell me it felt like a refrigerator outside, and that I must have been crazy! We all laughed, even though we couldn’t fully communicate. That moment stayed with me. Now, two years later, the Chilean mother works at the YMCA, helping other newcomers. Many of them hear about The Closet Share through her. She often sends people our way, and a large part of our current volunteer team has come through that connection. It’s a beautiful full-circle story, and it opened my heart to the power of community connections.
Q. Why do you think people from different cultures are attracted to The Closet Share?
A: I think it is all because it feels like a family. Many of our volunteers came to complete 40 hours but stayed for over 200. Some even come back on their days off after getting full-time jobs. For many, it’s their first connection to the community. A lot of newcomers don’t expect anyone to take the time, but when they see someone is willing to guide them, it makes a huge difference. Here, we try to get to know every volunteer, spend time with them, and train them properly. Culture is shared here. People bring music, food and stories from their countries. These small things help turn this into a second home. It’s more than just volunteering. They get experience, references and a better understanding of local life.
Q: Every day, you work with people from all over the world. Have you encountered any challenges and how do you overcome them?
A: The biggest challenges have been the language barrier and cultural differences. With 68 volunteers speaking more than 30 different languages, communication isn’t always easy. Some volunteers speak fluent English because it’s an official language in their home country. But for others, this is their first time in an English-speaking environment. It makes things challenging, not just for them, but for me, too. Now, I have learned to communicate in ways that make others feel comfortable. I try to slow down when I speak, use more body language, and make eye contact. I often tell our volunteers, “If I can understand you, you’re doing great. The more you speak, the more confident you become.” Cultural differences have also been a big learning curve for me. It's challenging but in a good way because it makes me become more open to different cultures. In Canada, we’re taught not to say or do certain things, but I’ve come to realize that in other cultures, those same things might be perfectly normal. And that’s okay. We were just raised with different rules.
Q. How have these volunteers, with their unique stories and experiences, helped shape The Closet Share itself? Is there a particular story, person, or moment that really stuck with you?
A: The Closet Share is what it is because of all the volunteers in it. I always say that because of our volunteers, this place has turned into more than a clothing platform. It’s now a language school, a small business workshop, a tech lab, and even a cultural exchange centre. One story that has stayed with me is about Majid — he’s now our only full-time employee, and his journey has been one of the most powerful reminders of why this place exists.
Majid is originally from Mombasa, Kenya. We met through the March of Dimes, which supports people with disabilities. Majid lives with disabilities, and he was connected to us through that program. The staff there kept telling me, “You must meet this young man, Majid. He’s amazing with tech.”For a while, we were struggling with our website. Our original developer had been working on it for six months and couldn’t get it done. One day, I said, “Please bring him in. I need help.” Majid showed up and in just two weeks, he and his brother rebuilt the entire website from scratch. It was incredible. Majid had learned graphic design and web development back in Kenya, and he brought all of that with him. Now, he’s also developing a mobile app for The Closet Share.
Another example that stuck out to me is Mimie, a woman from Uganda who didn’t speak English but was incredible with a sewing machine. I gave her a bag of damaged clothes and a machine. She went home and came back with a full African-style outfit she had made by hand. We couldn’t communicate with words, but her work said it all. Now, her brother is helping her apply to start her own clothing business. That’s what The Closet Share has become: a place where hidden talents get noticed.
Q. You were born and raised in Sudbury. From your perspective, how has the city changed in the last few years?
A: It’s incredible to see how much Sudbury has changed. When I was a teenager, there were barely any international faces in my school. We were all white, French or English. That was just normal back then. The closest we got was watching Jackie Chan movies, which were my only window into another culture. In the past five to seven years, something has changed. I started seeing more people from places like Nigeria, India or China. Now, you can walk into a room and see faces from across the world. I still remember the first time I looked around and realized I was the only white person in the room. And I thought this was beautiful. It showed how much the city has been evolving. But I also know that for some people, who aren’t used to that kind of cultural shift, it could be a bit of a shock. Change takes time. Not everyone adjusts at the same pace.
Q: How has your own understanding of “diversity” evolved over time?
A: To me, it’s no longer just a word; it’s part of my daily life. Working at The Closet Share has completely changed how I see diversity. I used to see things only in movies, but having conversations like this is becoming normal for me. I meet and talk with people from all over the world almost every single day. It’s mind-blowing how different it can be from what we know here in Canada, and I truly enjoy every moment of it. I think that’s one of the most beautiful things about how Sudbury is growing.
Q. What advice would you give to newcomers starting a new life in Sudbury?
A: Bring your skills, and don’t give up. A lot of newcomers have valuable skills and knowledge from back home, but they’re afraid to share them here. That’s a loss not just for them, but for the whole community. If you were a writer, teacher, designer or professional, whatever you were, don’t throw that away. Bring it into this new space. Use it. Share it. Our community needs it. Moving to a new country is not easy. Take your time to learn the language, ask questions and be patient with yourself. I’ve seen volunteers cry from stress, struggle with culture shock and doubt themselves. But I’ve also witnessed that lightbulb moment when they feel like they belong. That moment always comes if you don’t give up.
Q: What are your hopes for the future of The Closet Share and for the city of Sudbury?
A: I hope The Closet Share continues to be a space where everyone feels welcome, seen, and respected. It’s not just about clothing. It’s about connection, culture and inclusion. We want to share the spirit of The Closet Share, where differences are celebrated and everyone feels supported. As for Sudbury, I hope it continues to grow into a truly inclusive city. More newcomers are choosing to settle here, and that’s a beautiful thing. I wish for Sudbury to be not just a place where newcomers arrive, but a place where they feel they truly belong.
Voices of Volunteers: Reflections from the Closet Share Family
“I’ve watched it grow from an idea to a vibrant community, and I’m proud to be part of that journey.”
— Josee, Melissa’s longtime friend and early supporter
“This is volunteering and it’s work, but it’s fun. I enjoy it, and I feel like I’m giving back. It’s a win-win for me.”
— Karen Mallet (grandmother), semi-retired grandmother and board member
“At first, I was nervous, but everyone was so warm and welcoming. I felt comfortable here very quickly.”
— Nico Girard (grandson), high school student
“We are like a family. Melissa treats us like brothers and sisters as if we’ve known each other for decades.”
— Temitope Ogunlana, a mother of two daughters from Nigeria
“I was in bed a lot with mental illness and couldn’t work. Then I discovered The Closet Share. Now I come here every day — it gave me a reason to live.”
— Amanda Goudreau, volunteer coordinator
“Here, every clothing carries the warmth of a language and reflects the inclusiveness of another culture.”
— Jie (Alice) Zhou, volunteer and co-author
“It’s more than just clothes, it’s a place where kindness is sorted, folded, and passed on.”
— Ying (Vivian) Wang, volunteer and co-author
Ying (Vivian) Wang and Jie (Alice) Zhou are MBA students at Laurentian University. As newcomers to Canada and mothers, they are deeply interested in education, cultural transition and the immigrant experience. By listening and storytelling, they hope to build understanding across cultures.