Working Wardrobes Makes Plea For Donations, Total Loss After Fire

IRVINE, CA — A four-alarm fire at a commercial building in Irvine destroyed the offices of a nonprofit that has helped more than 105,000 job-seekers dress for success since 1990. While investigators attempt to learn the cause of the blaze which resulted in a total loss for the Working Wardrobes nonprofit business, owner and founder Jerri Rosen is already pounding the pavement to restart from scratch.

Hers was an accidental nonprofit business, Rosen told reporters at the scene the day after the devastating fire. "I never could say no to anyone who needed help," she said of the direction the Working Wardrobe business has taken. Over 30 years, they have amassed wardrobes, success stories, and ample space to educate those in need of business training and job leads. They have helped over 100,000 people go back to work, and this fire is just another hurdle to overcome.

Today, she and her Working Wardrobes volunteers serve men, women, and veterans.

Behind her, the 30,000 square foot building that housed her business is roped off, unsafe for even the investigators to enter. The walls aren't stable, and there is much debris that firefighters will need to navigate as they learn the cause of the blaze.

Why it burned isn't as important as getting back to work, according to Rosen.

"We are grateful to the OCFA for their extraordinary work yesterday," Rosen said. No one was injured. The only things that are lost can be replaced.

"We are grateful that nothing happened to the team," Rosen said.
The Working Wardrobes nonprofit does not just provide clients with outfits for work. They also train people to go back to work. Thirty years ago, she began with serving survivors of domestic violence.

Now, she is the one asking everything from clothing and business tools to a 30,000 square foot structure to house the nonprofit.
Donations requests include "most everything you have in your closet," Rosen said. If you have casual professional clothing, shoes, computers, phones, anything used in business, she said in an open call for support.

"Checks are also appreciated," Rosen said. "We are going to need more volunteers and are going to ask you for laptops and office supplies."

Inside the structure that burned were tens of thousands of suits, thousands of pairs of shoes, and assorted other items.

We are reaching out to all of our retail partners, she said.

Though everything was lost to the fire, Rosen has not even considered closing her doors. "We just have to start over," she said.
Working Wardrobes staff remains determined to stay open. Rosen's plea is that the employees, volunteers, and the Orange County community will rebuild and continue to fulfill the purpose of helping men, women, young adults and veterans overcome difficult challenges so they can achieve the dignity of work.

Financial donations can be made at workingwardrobes.org/donate-money

People who want to help set up temporary quarters can contact KathiS@workingwardrobes.org or call 714-210-2460.