During the past five years Mervyn's "Community Closet" has clothed over 5,000 women & 100 men, nationally. During the next four weeks Mervyn's will bring their 72-foot-long store on wheels to the three campuses of the Ventura County Community College District and help outfit nearly 300 local men and women who are enrolled in job training programs sponsored by the colleges.
On Thursday, April 25 and Friday, April 26 Oxnard College Careers & CalWORKS program will host the "Community Closet" beginning at 9 a.m. in the area near the tennis courts. The "closet," which is designed to simulate a Mervyn's store with showroom and fitting rooms, will be open for public tours from 9 am to 2 pm. Since research has shown that having new clothes goes a long way toward improving self-esteem and motivation as individuals make the transition from welfare to work, each participant will receive a new mini-business wardrobe -- including clothing, shoes and accessories -- valued at about $350 per client. While the "closet" is parked at Oxnard College for its two-day service, about 24 women and 10 men per day have been selected to receive the clothing. |
