SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - The office of Senator Brian Dahle (R – Bieber), in partnership with Working Wardrobes, Granite Data Solutions and the Peach Bowl Lions Club of Yuba City, hosted a clothing giveaway. The clothing drive was hosted at McClellan Business Park in the facilities owned by Granite Data Solutions, a CA Certified Disabled Veteran Owned Business. All of the brand new suits, shirts, slacks and sweaters were made available at zero cost to all attendees by Working Wardrobes and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The Peach Bowl Lions Club of Yuba City provided the clothing racks used to make sorting through all of the clothes easier for everyone.

Based out of Southern California, Working Wardrobes has helped thousands of people since 1990 overcome obstacles standing in the way of quality employment and dignity of work. Working Wardrobes gave thousands of pieces of clothing to Sen. Brian Dahle’s office in efforts to distribute the clothes to communities in need.  Over 100 people spread throughout Senate District 01 attended the clothing drive, the furthest coming from Alturas, the county seat of Modoc County.  Many different churches and community job placement programs stopped by and loaded up clothes for members in need and for distribution in their local communities.  The clothes were valued at over $350,000.

“For most, the thought of purchasing a nice sport coat or suit would not stay in their mind for too long. Instead, they would put out a missive to the congregation at large with the hope of borrowing an outfit to wear for a special occasion,” said Andre Sims, minister at Ananda Church of Self Realization. “A woman came into my office with tears of joy because her husband had taken her out for lunch for her birthday in his new sports coat.”

Many people called friends, family and coworkers while at the event to tell them of the opportunity at hand and encourage them to stop by and grab a couple suits to prepare for job interviews and special occasions. Organizations such as the Cry Organization, Magalia Community Church, Ranger Road, TEACH, Inc. and the Veteran Resource Center, Sacramento Works/One Stop Career Center sent members to the event.

Senator Dahle came and helped his constituents find some nice suits in their size, ate some lunch with the employees of Granite Data Solutions and presented a resolution to Brigg Goodwin, president of Granite Data Solutions and U.S. Army veteran. On Feb. 14, staff from the Senator’s office went to Yuba City to return the clothing racks and present a resolution for their hand in helping this event be successful.

On Sunday, Feb. 2, two days prior to the clothing drive hosted in Sacramento County, a four-alarm fire broke out at the Working Wardrobes headquarters in Irvine, destroying thousands upon thousands of pieces of clothing. The exterior walls are all that remain of the 22,000-square-foot facility. In the meantime, Goodwill has opened up their arms and welcomed Working Wardrobe to their Santa Ana location. Founder and CEO Jerri Rosen said they are grateful to have a place to be after losing their entire property as reported in the LA Times. Investigators believe the total loss amounts to about $12 million for the company.

If you are interested in donating any clothing to help Working Wardrobes bounce back from the fire, they are accepting donations and, in particular, they are in need of clothes, laptop computers, office supplies and volunteers. For more information, visit workingwardrobes.org.