Dry Cleaners Offer Free Services For Unemployed

This story may be an oldie, relatively speaking, but it's still a goodie -- and a viral one at that! Dry cleaners around the country are offering their services at no cost to unemployed customers who need their suit cleaned for an interview. It all began at Upper East Side dry cleaner First Professional Cleaners. A handwritten sign in their window reads, "If you are unemployed and need an outfit clean for an interview, we will clean it for free." According to the Daily News, it's owner Carlos Vasquez's way of giving a helping hand. "It's just something I do to give back to the community," explains Vasquez. "It's to thank them for the support that I get around here, for letting my business keep going by bringing me their clothes." And he's not alone.

High Point-based "A Cleaner World" cleaners made a similar announcement less than two weeks ago. ABC News' local affiliate in Durham reports that for unemployed job seekers, A Cleaner World "will clean a suit or a blazer and slacks, plus two shirts per week. Women can get a suit and two shirts or blouses or two regular dresses per week."

And Elite Cleaners in Minneapolis has also generously followed suit. Owner Don Chapman has donated his services to 2000 unemployed -- an offer he estimates will cost him $32,000.

Difficult times have been known to bring communities together as people lean on one another for support. In this recession, there's no shortage of communities around the country that have rallied around a struggling neighbor, or reached out a helping hand to those around them. We know there are more stories like these and HuffPost wants to highlight them. If you read or hear about an act of kindness in your community, email us the story at [e-mail].

These vignettes are a much needed counterpoint to the doom and gloom surrounding the economy; let's help change the conversation -- we can't do it without you.

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Comments

[greymom]

This is what Americans can be proud of. Instead of worrying about rich people having to pay 3% more in taxes, why not help somebody who is trying to be a contributing memeber of society.

After reading this story, I went out this morning to fill up my tank. I had just been paid and had a couple hundred in cash on me. I saw a guy, looked like a handyman, with a sign that said "need money for gas." After I filled up my tank, I handed the guy a $20. I hope it made a difference in his life. You should have seen the look on his face. As I gave him the money, I said, "we all have to hang together."

If he had just had a sign that said "hungry" or something else, I probably wouldn't have given him money, maybe a coupon for a burger which I keep on hand, but if he is trying to get to work, more power to him.

[elizlucinda]

Good for them..What a wonderful man.Now we should all go out and do something nice.

[liminal67]

Well said...

http://pitchbendpost.blogspot.com/

[WWWexler]

I found this story strangely moving.

Cool. And thanks.

-Wexler

[VOTER]

Nice.

Kudos to them.

[klondiker]

How inspiring!

[MarkBoston]

Good going Mr. Chapman !! You are the ideal of a great , fellow American. This is the stuff Heroes are cut from... Perhaps more men like Mr. Chapman will come forward and help where they can. some happy, feel good news at last !!

[Jeanette Ponder]

Fantastic news :)

[Stop the NWO]

A brilliant move on the part of the owner. When someone finally lands a job, they'll have another loyal customer.

[Simpletruthiness]

Pretty cool. I love when people come together in their community to do unexpected things like this.
A simple gesture but an important one. If you've been unemployed for a big it can seem too costly to dry clean. Give people dignity and a little hope that maybe the human race isn't so bad afterall.

[abigail1]

so inspiring.

[mergina]

How cool.

[liminal67]

Nice article... and good for the cleaners....

http://pitchbendpost.blogspot.com/

[TomWeishaar]

Good article on how good people stand tall during tough times.

[frogluv73]

I hope more stories like this begin to surface as things get worse. I think the one good thing that can come out of this bad economy is that simple, random acts of kindness will make a comeback. I hope that more people will once again begin to shop and patronize small, "mom-pop" businesses. I hope there becomes a resurgence of community, of people helping each other. I hope people, as a whole, begin to see corporations for what they really are: huge, greed machines that sell out jobs to other countries, while simultaneously ending small businesses that have been around for generations. It's cliche to say, but, I'm looking forward to what is yet to come.

[kolorkin]

YES, stories like this need to be front-page news. It is uplifting, it is encouraging, it brings people together in communities and it shows the importance of giving even in times of crisis.

Why can't they publish stories like this more??? Do they all want us on meds???