The Giving Closet

Trenton, NJ—I am not sure about you, but when I hear these two words together, California and closets, an image depicting luxury and organization comes to mind, a neat and tidy row of color coordinated designer high heeled shoes lined up like soldiers, set across from a series of wool suit jackets and fancy silk dresses. The kind of closet you might see in a movie or a do-it-yourself show. What I have come to learn is that California Closets is much more than everyone’s vision of a dream closet, and that many of the California Closets businesses are local franchises and embody a corporate culture of supporting each customer’s needs, especially when that customer is a nonprofit organization.

California Closets has a published credo, “Designing Better Lives.” Knowing that their purpose may run deeper, they try to reach the communities in which they live and serve. On their website it states they, “Have proudly supported national, regional, and local charities, as well as numerous community service activities.” Especially when it comes to weather challenges such as the ones faced in Puerto Rico, Florida, and Texas, after the 2017 hurricanes.

Recently, the team headquartered at the Cranbury, New Jersey location took a weekend day to totally transform The Father Center of New Jersey’s Dress2ImpressTM program room in Trenton. Marilyn Dolnick, General Manager of the Central and Southern New Jersey region for California Closets led the initiative after a phone call from Cynthia Wade, Executive Administrative Assistant at The Father Center. Cynthia called Marilyn to get more information and pitched the idea of a community service project. Marilyn loved the concept and after researching more about The Father Center of New Jersey, she determined the organization fit with the California Closets brand and felt the project would give her crew, “The perfect opportunity to help out and to build team camaraderie.”

Marilyn explained that she can typically help out one local nonprofit a year. The Father Center’s Dess2ImpressTM program, is a place where men who are seeking to improve their lives and become better providers for their families have the opportunity to pick out a new-to-them suit, tie, and dress shirt as a way to better prepare and build confidence for upcoming job interviews. The clothing is provided free of charge and their inventory comes from local donations, suit drives and overstock from retailers. The program has been an incredible success and has served over hundreds of men over the last ten years with interview appropriate clothing.

Karen Andrade-Mims, Executive Director of The Father Center stated, “We are so grateful to California Closets for believing in our mission and for their generosity with both their product donation and the contribution of time from all of the local staff members who attended the one-day event to construct the closet. Now we are organized and ready to serve the community!”

If this story has sparked a desire to organize your own closet space, you can reach out to Marilyn and her team at 609-655-1899 or via email her at: mdolnick@calclosets.com. To learn more about The Father Center of New Jersey, www.thefathercenter.org by visiting their website or Facebook page.