‘Suits for Soldiers’
WAYNESBURG – With more than a million soldiers transitioning out of the military and into civilian life within the next five years, Farmers Insurance in Waynesburg is promoting a “Suits for Soldiers” initiative to help make that switch a little easier.
With Veterans Day approaching Wednesday, the local Farmers Insurance agents Ken and Caitlin Carlisle will be collecting gently used business suits and professional attire for servicemen and women shifting into civilian life.
“Farmers is one of the top 125 veteran employers in the country,” Caitlin Carlisle said. “And 23 percent of Farmer’s agents have a military background; so this is an issue that is at the forefront of the company.”
The “Suits for Soldiers” initiative will run from Nov. 11 until Dec. 11. Anyone can drop off the gently used professional clothing, such as suits, dress shirts, ties and shoes, to the Farmers office at 35 S. West St. or call the office and agents will come and pick the clothes up.
“People always talk about cleaning out the closet, so this should be a simple easy way that people can help,” Caitlin Carlisle said. “This is a tangible way of saying, ‘You have taken care of us with all that you have done, and now you are coming back to us and we are going to take care of you and show you that we appreciate you.'”
Waynesburg American Legion Post 330 member and veteran Zane W. Mitchell plans on donating multiple suits to the cause.
“My wife is already in my closet sorting through stuff that I have matured out of,” Mitchell said. “The switch these men and women are going through is hard and this will really help them.”
After the suits are donated to the office, the couple will send them to the company’s military ambassadors, who will then hand deliver the suits to each individual soldier as they make their way home.
“We are going to go meet these people and shake their hands and say thank you and help them in that way,” she said.
Carlisle hopes that the community recognizes how much they can help service men and women throughout America by the simple act of donating professional clothing.
The office is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. For more information or to schedule a time for an agent to pick up clothing, call 724-833-9520.