DES MOINES, Iowa — Ema Cardenas was walking home from school when she was killed in a hit-and-run in April of 2022.

A year after her death, her family started the non-profit Simply Loved, a representation of who Cardenas was. Her family described her as kind, loving, and bubbly. Her mother and founder, Anna Campos, said she loved to help others in need.

Simply Loved helps first-generation teen girls by empowering them and providing them with educational and mental health resources.

Cardenas was supposed to have graduated this year. Her family will be celebrating her graduation and expanding the non-profit by launching Ema’s Closet. The mobile clothing closet provides clothes and necessities to young girls in need in the community.

The organization is looking for donations of gently used or new clothes, hygiene products, makeup, and shoes.

The launch party is on Thursday, July 10th, from 6 – 9 p.m. at the Downtown Hampton Inn.

You can learn more about Simply Loved by visiting their Facebook Page.