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Annabel’s Closet, Orlando Magic raising money to afford new forklift for nonprofit

ORLANDO, Fla. — Two years ago, Annabel’s Closet was a little cramped.

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The charity was operating out of storage facilities, fighting the Florida humidity and the need for more space.

After being featured on Central Florida Strong, the community came through, helping them into a warehouse.

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But now they want to reach higher, with the help of a forklift.

“A forklift would enable us to be able to be more successful at storing larger items and more of them … to be able to reach more families and be able to help more people in the community,” said Lori Hutchinson, a domestic violence survivor who started Annabel’s Closet to help others escape abusive homes by providing them with gently used furniture and household goods. They’ve recently expanded that operation to support other nonprofits.

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Hutchinson said they need to raise between $10,000 and $15,000 to purchase a used forklift, and they’ve partnered with the Orlando Magic to help close that gap.

Annabel’s Closet is selling tickets to the game against the New York Knicks on April 3. A portion of each ticket sold using a special link will go towards the nonprofit’s goal to get their new forklift.

Click here to purchase tickets through Annabel’s Closet’s special link.

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Joe Kepner

Joe Kepner, WFTV.com

I unloaded the U-Haul in Orlando in 2008, just in time to cover the Magic's run to the 2009 NBA Finals.

Adam Poulisse, WFTV.com

Adam Poulisse joined WFTV in November 2019.

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