Little Things for Little People reopens at new home in Monessen
The nonprofit organization provided free baby clothes and items to more than 80 families on Tuesday.
After a months-long hiatus, Little Things for Little People once again opened its doors Tuesday at its new location in Monessen.
As a line of people wrapped around the building Tuesday morning, Little Things program coordinator Laura Wilson said they’re happy to again be serving their community.
“This is very important, especially now with the economy and families struggling to pay their bills and to buy things,” Wilson said, “It’s important that all little kids get the items they need to be cared for.”
Located at 100 Third St., the organization is neighbors with His Place Coffee, Community and More. Little Things has been in operation for 13 years and aims to provide free clothing and items to families with newborns through kindergarten-age children.
The grand opening featured candies, cookies and treats for families to take. Little Things also gave visitors the chance to win a giveaway prize.
Little Things previously had a location at First United Methodist Church in Belle Vernon, but organizers had to find a new location after the church expressed concerns about its space. After they were left scrambling to find a new place, His Place Coffee offered Little Things a space.
Little Things served more 80 from throughout the Valley during its grand opening. There were also visitors from the Mon Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce, along with Westmoreland County Commissioner Ted Kopas.
“Normally, we get between about 120 to 260 families a month,” Wilson said. “So we’re very, very busy. We pick up donations from consignment sales in Pittsburgh. Just Between Friends Pittsburgh is one of them. We pick up from the MomCo in Pleasant Hills. And then families can bring items back and forth, like their kids’ donations when they’re outgrowing sizes and stuff.”
Little Things is sponsored by the Belle Vernon Area Ministerium Association, which has been with the nonprofit since the beginning. Pastor Vann Walchock, the president of the ministerium, and Vice President Pastor Sandy Fitzgibbons both helped out at the grand opening.
“Across this area, where so many of the businesses are either closing or laying people off, they don’t have the finances to take care of their children properly, not only nutrition-wise, but clothing,” Fitzgibbons said. “And so what we can do to help others, that’s what we try to do. That’s what our ministerium is about. It’s about helping others.”
The new location was lined with racks of colorful clothes as well as toys and a whole section dedicated to diapers. Families excitedly looked through the clothing while their children enjoyed toys in a small play area.
Brandi Colbert was one of the moms looking for clothes while her 2-year-old son Finnigan, who was dressed in a green dinosaur costume, played with other kids. Colbert, who lives in Charleroi, said organizations like Little Things provide an essential service for their communities.
“I’d say right now, especially with the government shutdown, it’s really helpful to have this — these people, I think, are giving out food today — and food stamps are going to be cut,” Colbert said. “So I think it’s important that it helps cut down costs because diapers are really expensive. Clothes are expensive; a kid’s outfit is $20, so it definitely helps with that, especially come winter.”
The federal government has been in a shutdown for 28 days, leading to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, on course to being unable to provide benefits by Saturday.
Little Things is always taking donations and Wilson said if anyone is interested in dropping something, they can be reached through their Facebook page, which is titled “Little Things for Little People.”
Wilson said they will be open from 9:30 a.m. to noon the second and fourth Tuesdays of every month, with the exceptions of July and August 2026, when the shop is closed.
