Dignity U Wear celebrates founder’s birthday

Tuesday, March 7 was a special day at Dignity U Wear’s headquarters on Myrtle Avenue.

A cake sat in the break room with “Happy Birthday Henri” written on it to commemorate the 90^th birthday of the nonprofit’s founder, Henri Landwirth. March 7 was also deemed Henri Landwirth Day by the city of Jacksonville.

Landwirth, a Holocaust survivor, founded Dignity U Wear in 2000 after asking homeless residents outside the Sulzbacher Center on East Adams Street how he could help them.

“A man told him he needed underwear and Henri went out and bought all the underwear he could,” said Dignity U Wear President Nicole Brose. “We support a lot of nonprofits and gift them with new clothing so they can take that off the table and focus on what they do really well.”

Dignity U Wear employees celebrated the 90th birthday of their founder, Henri Landwirth, on Tuesday, March

7. (Ann Friedman/Florida Times-Union)

The organization provides new clothing to the homeless, school children in need, veterans coming out of the military and women and girls who have suffered domestic violence as well as emotional and/ or sexual abuse.

Since its launch 17 years ago, Dignity U Wear has given out more than nine million pieces of clothing to those in need across the country.

“We say the gift of dignity a lot but most of us can watch the weather and put on a sweater if it’s cold or wear a sleeveless shirt if it’s warm and that’s a huge gift to us,” Brose said. “When life hands you obstacles that you can’t get over easily, how are you supposed to get a job and get back on your feet when that basic essential isn’t there?”

She added, “We’re a small piece of the puzzle that works to give that dignity back and can we serve everyone? No, but can we try? Absolutely.”

Brose said Dignity U Wear depends on volunteers to sort clothing that arrives at the warehouse from the more than 100 apparel partners such as Brooks Brothers, Rack Room Shoes and Tommy Hilfiger.

Last year, more than 1,200 volunteers visited Dignity U Wear and logged 3,000 hours.

“This is a perfect place to volunteer because it’s not strenuous, it’s fun and when you fold 100 shirts, you’re helping 100 people,” Brose said. “The more support we have, the more we can serve.”

Gino Senesi has been homeless for nearly two years and was connected to Dignity U Wear through the City Rescue Mission, which partners with the organization to provide clothing.

“When I first got here I didn’t know anything about the organization, and as an Army veteran, this is where I’ve gotten my clothes from,” he said. “I wouldn’t have what I have without their assistance.”

Senesi added, “I hope they can continue helping people and that they continue to expand but they need more volunteers.”

Jamie Mullis has been a volunteer coordinator at Dignity U Wear for nearly nine years and said the organization is currently experiencing a lack of volunteers.

“A lot of times businesses have so much going on during the first part of the year so they don’t start letting their employees volunteer until the spring,” she said. “We’re a skeleton crew and we need all the help we can get.”

Mullis said she hopes more companies team up with Dignity U Wear to provide a volunteer opportunity for their employees.

“I would love to have even more companies donate their employees to come help us because it’s really important,” she said. “It means a lot to us to have businesses guide their employees our way and we couldn’t do it without them, there’s no way.”

On March 1, Dignity U Wear launched their 11^th annual Undie Campaign, which runs until April 30, to collect the most requested items for those in need, underwear and socks.

“The campaign was born from Henri and how we were founded and we want to try to involve the community in the campaign as much as possible,” said Vice President of Operations Nicola Barnack. “We’re working with local businesses and organizations as well as individuals to host undies drop offs and collect underwear and socks for our mission.”

She added that people can participate virtually by signing up on Dignity U Wear’s website to host a virtual undie campaign.

“We collected 300,000 pairs collected last year and our goal this year is 350,000 pairs,” Barnack said.

For more information on volunteering or to sign-up for the Undie Campaign, call (904)636-9455, email info@dignityuwear.org or visit www.dignityuwear.org.

ANN FRIEDMAN: (904)359-4619