Englewood—Wearing a crisp blouse with a new skirt and jacket or a freshly cleaned suit of clothes to a job interview is always a smart idea. It provides the interviewer with an immediately positive impression, and it gives the interviewee an extra blast of confidence. For young people, a well-fitting couture bat mitzvah dress or suit for a special occasion has the same power to give the wearer sartorial self-assurance, something teens always need.

For some in Bergen County, clothing for job interviews, yom tov or other important occasions has come recently by way of Ezrah’s Closet, an initiative of Project Ezrah. Open since 2005, Project Ezrah case workers and staff members help local families navigate the morass of financial devastation and guide them toward financial solvency, as well as appropriate and meaningful employment.

Now, with Ezrah’s Closet, Project Ezrah has created a large clothing resource that is used without cost by about five clients and their families each week.

“Our community’s ahavat achim has led to the success of the Closet,” said Rabbi Yossi Stern, Project’s Ezrah’s director. “Project Ezrah now accepts donations to provide men’s business suits, women’s designer wear and new children’s clothing for the community. The list goes on to include almost any clothing item you can imagine,” he said.

According to Susan Alpert, Project Ezrah’s director of development, Ezrah’s Closet began with a cache of bat mitzvah dresses stored in a supporter’s basement. “But, we soon realized that we could, with the support of our wonderful community, create a clothing resource that would service all demographics of our community. The Closet, staffed by a wonderful, fashion-conscious Project Ezrah staff member, has grown to separate rooms for children’s wear, menswear, coats, skirts and tops, dresses, suits and simcha wear. Shoes, hats, handbags, accessories and men’s ties are displayed in the open central area,” Alpert said.

Shopping at Ezrah’s Closet is by appointment only, and in order to give customers anonymity as well as the staff member’s full attention, only one appointment is made for any one time. “While some of the clothing is ‘gently used,’ there is also a fairly good amount of new (tag still on) clothing that has been donated,” Alpert said.

While Project Ezrah clients are not charged at all for their Closet purchases, Alpert said it is understood that there are many families in the community who are not in need of Project Ezrah’s full services but might want to shop at Ezrah’s Closet. “Therefore, we open the Closet’s doors to families who are making ends meet but are working within a very tight clothing budget. These shoppers are asked to make a nominal donation,” she said.

In addition, sensitive to the fact that there are many girls in our local yeshivas who are not able to wear the current style or extensive wardrobe as some of their classmates, Project Ezrah has arranged “trunk shows” for in-school showing and buying. The trunk show is open to all, and since vintage is very “in,” all the girls are happy to shop, Alpert said.

“Prices at the trunk shows range from $3 to $20; our zchus is knowing that the girl who might not be able to afford to shop with her peers is now able to be a part of the group without financial worry,” she said.  Alpert reported that two trunk shows have recently been held at Frisch High School and staff is currently working with Ma’ayanot and Ben Porat Yosef to set up shows there.

The community’s involvement in Ezrah’s Closet continues to be essential to its success. “We had a group of young ladies who got together and collected all of the Bat Mitzvah party dresses from as many girls as possible from their school. They had them cleaned and prepared them for donation to Project Ezrah. But that’s not all; sensitive to our clients’ needs for modesty in clothing attire, one of the mothers went out and bought new shells or sweaters to match each dress,” Alpert said.

Local stores have also gotten involved with Ezrah’s Closet, by sending in inventories of stockings, tights, shoes and other accessories, Alpert said.

Coming close to winter, Ezrah’s Closet is in need of donations of warm school coats. Clothing donations are accepted on Wednesday between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Project Ezrah also invites the general public to shop at their “Open Closet” sale which is held every few months. Marked prices are very reasonable. The next sale is scheduled for Sunday, October 27^th from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. If anyone is interested in more information, call Project Ezrah’s offices at 201-569-9047.

By Elizabeth Kratz