A woman accused of breaking into the Franklin County Foster Closet in Union, Missouri, spent roughly three hours inside the building before fleeing with suitcases, backpacks and rolling donation bins full of supplies meant for foster children. Staff later discovered the stolen items soaking wet and coated in mud, scattered down a hillside and into a storm drain near the Franklin County Family Resource Center.
Samantha Conn had visited the Foster Closet two days before the July 30 break-in, according to First Alert 4, and returned that night around 8:20 p.m., remaining inside for approximately three hours. Security footage later showed that everything taken was eventually recovered, though about 90 percent of the recovered items were still salvageable after being found wet and muddy. Union police arrested Conn in connection with the break-in, and court documents show she also took items from at least one other organization along with the Franklin County Family Resource Center.
A Recurring Target for Break-Ins
This was not an isolated incident for the nonprofit. The Foster Closet has been burglarized four times since 2023, per the station's report, and executive director Amber Rainey told The Missourian the building has faced roughly one burglary a year since then, with past incidents involving items left outside in the rain or scattered around the perimeter. The organization said it had taken steps to improve security before this latest break-in occurred.
The financial toll from the July 30 incident landed at roughly $4,500 to $5,000, according to the same account, with Conn estimated to have taken about $5,000 worth of items in total. Cleanup required between 20 and 25 staff hours to sort, wash and reorganize what remained. A rolling donation bin recovered from the scene still needs washing, per the outlet's reporting.
Facing a Felony Charge
Conn faces a second-degree burglary charge, a Class D felony under Missouri Revised Statutes § 569.170, which applies when someone knowingly enters or remains unlawfully in a building intending to commit a crime inside, according to the Missouri Revisor of Statutes. Class D felonies in the state carry penalties of up to seven years in prison. Following her arrest, Conn was held on a $25,000 cash bond with court appearances scheduled for August 10 and August 27, per St. Louis News, which also reported that court records indicate Conn was seen at the facility days prior visibly upset over denied services.
Community Response Turns the Story Around
Once the Foster Closet made the break-in public, the response was swift. An initial social media post about the incident was seen by more than 100,000 people, and community donations surged in its wake, including boxes of items purchased directly off the organization's Amazon wish list. First Christian Church of Washington, Missouri, mobilized volunteers through its Salt & Light ministry to help staff clean up and restore the facility, according to a post from the church.
Rainey framed the outpouring in stark terms, saying the community was turning the incident from a burglary into a blessing. She also emphasized who the organization exists to serve, noting the Foster Closet's mission centers on children rather than adults.
A Safety Net Stretched by Rising Need
The Franklin County Foster Closet was co-founded in 2019 by Amber Raney out of donated Sunday school rooms at First Presbyterian Church of Union, according to the Franklin County Foster Closet, before moving into the former cafeteria of the Franklin County Community Resource Center and earning official 501(c)(3) status in May 2021. The nonprofit now operates out of that Union building, stocking clothing from preemie sizes through adult 4XL, along with suitcases and moving kits assembled for children entering care, and it works with caseworkers and therapists while supporting biological families in prevention and reunification efforts.
Missouri Department of Social Services Children's Division caseworkers maintain 24/7 access to the closet using a shared scan card, and new foster placement families can gain emergency access within a week of placement. To cover acute crises, the organization maintains Immediate Needs Lockers at the Children's Division office in Union stocked with 400 pre-packed bags containing a full day's clothing and hygiene items for children entering care.
The Foster Closet served between 700 and 800 individual children in each of the last two years, and more than 350 children are currently in the foster care system across Franklin County alone. That local demand mirrors a statewide trend: Missouri's foster care population grew 7.8 percent during 2025, rising from 11,070 children in January to 11,935 by December, according to Missouri Department of Social Services metrics cited by the Missouri Department of Social Services. By mid-2026, the statewide total reached 12,633 children, with kids experiencing an average of three separate placement changes during their time in state custody.
For now, the Foster Closet continues to accept monetary donations through its website and regularly shares its most-needed items on Facebook, keeping both summer and winter clothing on hand year-round for families who often need help without warning.
