There are moments in life when a simple suit meant more than just clothing. Let me show you four of them:

Three years old. Thrift-store suit. Mom said we still had to look our best for church.

My senior photo. Suit from Goodwill. Tie borrowed from Grandpa. Confidence from Mom.

U.S. Air Force Commissioning day. Top graduate. Also, a second-hand suit.

Rookie of the Year at Schooley Mitchell. This suit wasn’t about appearance—it was about perseverance.

Each of these moments was shaped by more than the suit I was wearing. They were shaped by pride, confidence, and the belief that I was worth something. That’s what image does. It changes the way we see ourselves—and the way the world sees us.

For someone struggling—whether it’s a teenager preparing for their first job interview or a single parent rebuilding after hardship—having access to affordable, professional clothing is about more than appearance. It’s about dignity.

Goodwill stores make that possible. They don’t just generate revenue for job training programs—they provide people with the ability to present themselves with confidence. To feel like they belong. To walk into the world with their head held high. But keeping those stores open is getting harder. Rising costs in waste, telecom, fuel, supplies, and credit card processing are putting pressure on budgets and forcing tough decisions.

That’s where we can help.

At Schooley Mitchell, we support Goodwill organizations across North America by reducing operational costs—without disrupting operations or asking your team to do more with less.

That means:

• More stores staying open
• More people stepping into opportunity with confidence
• More lives changed by the simple power of showing up and being seen