The Best Things in Life Are Free – Including Suits for Veterans

By Chuck N. Baker

“Water, water, everywhere, nor any drop to drink,” is an oft-quoted line from “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” by English poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge.  

It’s a perfect metaphor for some transitioning from active duty to civilian life who see professional-looking suits everywhere but can’t afford to buy one.

Enter Save A Suit, a charity that provides free suits to men and women veterans nationwide. The process is simple. A veteran first provides measurements. This includes waist size, pants length, arm length, and any additional measurements required. The veteran also must provide a copy of their DD-214 to verify veteran status. The information is sent off to Save A Suit, and within a short time, a suit arrives by mail, ready to be worn to job interviews or other situations that call for a professional look.

The idea behind the project came from Air Force veteran Scott Sokolowski, a Connecticut financial planner who devised a way to fill a need. The nonprofit stems from Sokolowski’s interview of a veteran candidate, who showed up without proper attire. Sokolowski asked why he wasn’t wearing a suit. The veteran sadly replied, “I can’t afford one.” That reply hit a nerve with Sokolowski. Today, Save A Suit continues to grow into a far-reaching organization making positive contributions.

“We started in 2009 when the unemployment rate was like 30 percent. We wanted to be a source to help give people confidence,” he said. He produced a suit event for veterans at New York’s Citi Field, partnering with another nonprofit, Be A Hero, Hire A Hero. He added, “We suited up 400 veterans that day.”

Donated suits come from all over the country. “We now have thousands of suits on hand,” he said. “We call on the community and we have local suit drives. Some pretty big companies have helped us with that.” Space is rented at a local church where the clothes are stored. “We have different sizes and we now fully outfit veterans. We provide a shirt, necktie and shoes. We want veterans to look good, and to feel good. Landing a job requires more than just the skills to do the job. Candidates have to look the part.”

Sokolowski said he recently added yet another dimension to his service — Patriot Packages. “We give packages of food to needy veterans, part of our wanting to be a full-service resource.” Save A Suit requires a lot of manpower and Sokolowski is quick to explain that he is not a one-man band. He relies on employees and interns, who he calls “the lifeblood of our organization.”

He serves as Executive Director, supervising four main people and 16 interns. “We work with high school and college interns and local universities award them with college credits for the work they do with us,” Sokolowski said. He also welcomes financial donations that are needed to keep the doors open.

In addition to being an Air Force veteran himself, Sokolowski said he is the son of a U.S. Navy sailor and the grandson of a Coast Guardsman. His own service and military family connections add to his dedication in helping fellow veterans.

Click here to learn more or contact Save A Suit.

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