by Lorine Parks
“Our clients are treated with respect and dignity,” said Patrice Jinso-Springer, Executive Director of the Downey branch of Clothes the Deal.
“When they come in we provide them with a shopping experience, a dressing room to change in. When they step out and look in the mirror, you can see the ‘Wow! Is that me?’ expression. And often tears come to their eyes.”
Patrice’s clients are people who have been marginalized by society: the at-risk youth, the woman coming off an abusive relationship or substance abuse; the recently incarcerated man just released from prison with no clothes but what was released in.
Veterans returning to the workforce, people coming out of homeless shelters, persons with disabilities, immigrants, all have turned to Clothes the Deal for help at that crucial point, when they go to ask for a job.
“We help them make themselves presentable when they go for a job interview. And,” added Patrice, “there is no charge for the clothes. Everything we do is free, including the services of a seamstress who comes and makes alterations on what they choose from the rack.” Where in regular stores can you find a seamstress!
Clients are referred to Clothes the Deal, a private non-profit organization, by government, private, and faith-based agencies. The purpose of Clothes the Deal is to assist low-income men, women, and youth who are in the process of making the transition from welfare to the workplace. There are thirteen stores in the Los Angeles area, helping empower them to gain employment and achieve economic self-sufficiency.
“We are 100% dependent on the donations people give us,” Patrice said. “We only ask that the clothes be clean.” Clean gently used clothing can be dropped off at the branch store at 9525 Imperial Highway (near Stox), to be sorted and distributed. They like to get hangers too.”
Beside individual donations, Clothes the Deal also gets apparel from places like Men’s Wearhouse. They have contracts with 5 stores who, at the end of the summer season when they need to clear the racks for fall fashions, give jackets, sports coats, tailored shirts and slacks.
“First impressions are everything,” said Patrice. “No matter how much time and trouble you spend on your resumé, the prospective employer will form an impression within the first five seconds. And we want that impression to be a positive one.”
“How many in this room have been the interviewer, for hiring for a position?” Patrice asked, and out of the raised hands, she chose Lori Tiffany, our new member-to-be Executive Director at the Downey Family YMCA. “I look at how they are dressed,” said Lori. “And I look in their eyes.”
“Yes,” said Patrice, “besides the clothes we teach our clients about good interviewing techniques: making eye contact, having a firm handshake. When I start a workshop,” she continued, “I go around the room shaking everyone’s hand. Then I can give them feedback as to what it should be. Social interaction is so important and many young people haven’t gotten the chance have good experiences.”
“The bottom line,” said Patrice, “is making people feel good about themselves.”
Patrice is a Rotarian, and has spent her life in the service of others (She recently retired from teaching in the Centinella School System). She is a past president of the Rotary Club of Westchester, but “we have dwindled down to about 10 members, and are in the process of being absorbed by another club,” Patrice said. “But we did have a very successful drive for glasses for school children. Although we are small, we started with a proposed fund-raising goal of $30,000 for Vision To Learn. Thanks to the several other Rotary Clubs with which we partnered, we ended up raising $67,000, and we were able to serve all five schools in the Lennox School District.