A Grant, Growth, and Gratitude: Big Wins for Local Maternity Thread

Local Maternity Thread is pleased to announce that we, through fiscal sponsor CHEER, were awarded a $500 grant from the Takoma Foundation to establish a new clothing closet in the greater Takoma Park area. We are eager to increase access to maternity clothing across the region, and this grant enables us to keep more clothing in circulation while piloting a sustainable model for community-hosted clothing closets. The Takoma Foundation is a volunteer-run nonprofit that fuels grassroots initiatives aimed at equity, inclusion, and civic engagement. Through community-driven grantmaking, the Foundation supports bold, local solutions that reflect the diversity and values of Takoma Park.

Local Maternity Thread Steering Committee members pose with the Azalea Award.

In addition, Local Maternity Thread’s founder Amy Leo was selected as a winner of the Takoma Foundation’s 2025 Azalea Award in the Neighborhood Volunteer category for her work with Local Maternity Thread. The Azalea Awards recognize local changemakers—neighbors, educators, entrepreneurs, and advocates—whose work strengthens the social fabric of the community. Receiving this award is a full-circle moment because reading about previous Azalea Award winners’ projects, especially Lara Kris Watson’s free bins, inspired Amy to launch a community maternity and nursing clothing closet. Congratulations to all of the 2025 Azalea Awardees!