The Career Closet: A Unique Service

On Saturday, June 25 the Career Closet served its final two clients, the end of a community service project that began in January 1999.

In early 1998, the Chief Adminstrative Officer of the County of Ventura spoke at a program meeting regarding welfare reform in Ventura County and the challenges to be faced implementing the CalWORKS program. The plan included an opportunity for a community service organization to work with the county to establish a clothing closet for those women ready to enter the work force. SIO had been looking for a "hands on" service project and this seemed the perfect opportunity. Then new member Jackie McConville took on the challenge of leading the implementation plan.

Over the years the Career Closet served hundreds of job seekers, not only those from the CalWORKS program but also women participating in job training and transitional living programs provided by community based organizations.

Of course, SIO was very disappointed when in late May 2005 we received notification from the County of Ventura that effective July 1 funding would no longer be available for the project. The Career Closet Committee met immediately and determined that we could not continue without the county's support and would therefore terminate the project. The committee went into action and was pleased when Goodwill Industries offered to take the inventory of clothing.

The Career Closet was a truly collaborative project - in addition to the funding received from the county, we are appreciative of the support provided by Main Street Cleaners and landlord, Martin Dent, and to the many individuals and organizations that supported our project with their donations of clothing.

The following note was left at the Career Closet by a recent client - "Thank you very much for the giving of all of the wonderful clothes, I will feel very professional sporting these wonderful outfits." Indeed those countless hours spent by SIO members and Friends sorting donations and assisting women to select appropriate clothing for a job interview or that first week at work did make a difference in their lives.

Thank you to all,
Susan Englund
Career Closet Chair