Student-Run Clothes Closet provides business suits, casual wear and coats for fellow classmates

Kendra Williams and her sorors had a vision to make sure fellow UDC students have solid interview skills and can dress to impress on job interviews. With the Firebird Coop, that vision has been brought to life. What was initially planned as a one-day business symposium sponsored by the Beta Iota chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., has grown into an incredible resource – a clothes closet that provides students with items for all seasons, including business suits, outerwear and formal attire.

Williams, who is president of the Beto Iota chapter at UDC and former Miss UDC (2022-23), partnered with UDC Housing and Residence Life Assistant Director Geoffrey Whitley, to host the initial event last April, where they provided more than 150 students with professional interview tips, business attire and other career resources.

“We both wanted to do a kind of business-type forum and give out business wear,” Williams said. “It was funny because when I came to him, he already had the same idea in mind. We joined forces and made it happen. Geoffrey served as the person who delivered the interview tips and what to wear.  He also came with a bunch of men’s clothing, too. That kind of changed what we had in mind and gave it a broader reach.”

UDC offered a clothes closet in the past that was run by Career Services on a smaller scale, but it was paused during the pandemic.

“This is our attempt at restarting it, and Geoffrey rebranded it, and now it’s turned into something even greater,” she said. “People donate every week and Beta Iota volunteers help to sort the clothing donations.”

The Firebird Coop is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Available items range from coats, shoes, dresses, pants and some accessories and are free to all UDC students. Thanks to the quantity of donations, the Coop has already been expand its reach to include students from other DC universities who show their ID.

Promoted on campus by flyers and through social media, Williams and Whitley have worked to get the word out to reduce the financial burden of clothing for students, especially when it comes to winter coats. There is currently a need for more winter clothing donations of all types.

“We’ve heard that this winter may have a lot of snow, and we don’t want students to have to spend hundreds of dollars on coats,” Williams said. “It’s hard enough covering all of their other expenses.”

As students prepare for upcoming holiday breaks, the store is also taking donations of personal hygiene products for students to take with them.

The store tries to keep seasonal clothing on display for students to browse. They are now accepting jackets, hoodies, sweaters and jeans – which are always in demand. People can drop their donations off at the store or email to make arrangements with Whitley. Sizes in the store range from extra small to 3X and 4X.

Williams hopes to make the clothes closet her legacy, and to see it continue long after she graduates.

“Considering that this is my last semester, I don’t want to see it stop here,” Williams said. “I trust the fact that Geoffrey will keep it going as well as the rest of our chapter. I would like to see it grow bigger so that it will be here to help students for years to come. “

“We have been very appreciative of the faculty and staff who make donations,” Whitley said. “I get emails from them every day asking what and where they can donate. It’s been really great to know that people are willing to give back to the students.  I’m really appreciative of the University, because people really want to help the students. That’s been the highlight for me.”

The Firebird Coop is located in the Student Center on the B level, with plans for expansion to a larger space after UDC’s First Lady Tonya Edington took an interest in the project and committed to helping them obtain more space.

“We met during the UDC officer swearing-in ceremony, and she said she wanted to see the clothing closet,” Williams said. “It was very nice of her to stop by. Lady Edington was really giving us great insight on how to develop the store further and how to make it bigger. She is interested in helping us get a larger location in the Student Center. We’ve stayed in contact with her as well as the president.”

Working with UDC housing, Whitley has a special place in his heart for ensuring that students’ needs are met. He makes sure that UDC student residents, many of whom are international, are not food insecure or in need of clothing.

“When I was in grad school at Old Dominion University, before I came to UDC and was closing up the residence hall for the holidays, there were two guys who had no food and no place to go. I got permission for them to stay in my room while I was gone. That experience really stayed with me,” Whitley said. “The clothes closet can offset students having to worry about basic needs and being able to focus on school and studying.”

The Firebird Coop has already been a blessing to many students, where even the UDC Royal Court has come in looking for accessories.

“There is no stigma associated with coming into the store,” Williams said. “We want it to be a place where men or women feel comfortable browsing. One young lady came in, and I admired her jacket. She said, ‘You don’t recognize it? I got it here.’”

Donations are accepted to the Firebird Coop in the store, or you can email geoffrey.whitley@udc.edu