Goodwill Offers Suits To Veterans

Goodwill stores in the New York and New Jersey area ran a promotion over the weekend where they gave free suits to veterans.

In all, 39 stores participated in Goodwill Suits Vets, including the on Route 59.

“It’s a new program we started to honor all of the veterans returning home,” said Diana Kinchler, store manager in the retail division at the Nanuet location. “It’s our way of saluting them, of giving them good will.”

But the program was open to any veteran, not just those who have recently returned.

“Hopefully what it will do is make the transition from serving to coming home a bit easier,” said Vicki Nikci, Hudson Valley district manager for Goodwill.

On Saturday, Everett Swann, 87, of South Nyack, and Nick Niforos, 62, of Thiells, were two veterans at the Nanuet store. Swann is a World War II veteran and Niforos is a Vietnam War veteran.

While neither is currently looking for work, Niforos said if he found a suit it would be for general purposes. Swann is retired, but said if he found a suit he would use it while doing community work. He picks up items being donated and brings them to churches.

Both veterans said they’re pleased with how soldiers returning to America now are treated.

“A lot more people have noticed the soldiers coming home with all of the over in Iraq and Afghanistan,” Niforos said. “You’ll see some businesses put signs in the window welcoming soldiers home. I’m happy to see the soldiers now getting some recognition.”

Neither veteran said they necessarily felt any hostility after returning the county after serving. Swann said after coming back, he worked in a paper mill in Piermont for more than 40 years. Niforos said after returning home, he was more focused on his first-born son, who at three months had to have open heart surgery. He added that he worked as an EMS for 12 years after returning before eventually opening Mama’s Deli and Cafe in Pomona.

Both said they found out about the promotion because they shop at the Goodwill store, and Kinchler told them about it. They both alerted other veterans of the giveaway at the store, as well.

“There are a lot of veterans out of work, homeless or depressed,” Niforos said. “They’re just on this constant roller coaster, and so it’s nice when people reach out and try to help. It’s nice when thinking about veterans is brought to the forefront.”