The Clothes Closet of the First United Methodist Church received a new addition Sunday when Dr. Eugene Foster and his wife, Joyce, donated their former office building to the charitable group.

Rev. Richard Laster led members of the congregation from their Sunday service to the dedication of the building. Following his prayer, a new sign revealing the name was unveiled.

Joy Beth Moore, leader of the volunteers who process the clothing, household goods and other items donated to the group, said the Foster Building will be used primarily to store out-of-season items such as Valentine’s, Halloween, or Christmas-related items.

The Clothes Closet first started in a former service station owned by the church by the railroad track before they moved to their current headquarters at the corner of N. Montgomery and Buffalo Sts.

The Foster Building is across Buffalo St. to the north of the Clothes Closet.

Dr. Eugene Foster was recruited by Ragland-Fenlaw-Ford Clinic and Hospital to practice medicine in Gilmer, and he made the transition to Baylor Hospital-Gilmer after the death of Dr. Tedroe Ford.

From there, he briefly practiced at Gladewater Municipal Hospital, and worked with Drs. Roger Whitman and Jack P. Kirby Jr. in an extended-hours clinic called NowCare.

The red brick building which has been designated The Foster Building was originally constructed by Drs. Harris and Douglas Daniels for their dental practice.

Dr. Foster purchased the building for his family practice in the late 1980s and continued to practice there, with his wife serving as his nurse until his retirement a few years back.