Texas Border Business
By Selene Rodriguez
South Texas College is expanding access to free, career-ready clothing by opening two new locations of its Threads Career Closet at the Health Science Professions (HSP) and Technology campuses, helping more students prepare for the workforce at no cost.
Supported by donations from faculty, staff and community partners, the initiative now offers career-specific items such as scrubs, lab coats and fire-resistant clothing, in addition to professional and casual attire.
“Through generous donations, we’re able to provide students with suits, dresses, shirts, ties and other professional and career-specific clothing when they need it most,” said Joanna Nino-Montes, Career Services coordinator. “We’re excited to see how this initiative has grown with the support of the college and our community, allowing us to remove financial barriers so students can succeed in the classroom and the workforce.”
Health science students can now obtain program-specific clothing for free at the new HSP location, including scrubs in designated colors required for each academic program. Graduating students are encouraged to donate gently used scrubs, creating a cycle of support for incoming classes.
“We’re thrilled to see the closet come to life at the Health Science Professions campus,” said Karyna Cruz, STC Career and Placement specialist. “Students can dress professionally, pick up scrubs or donate items to support their peers. We’ve seen incredible generosity from graduates, faculty and staff, creating meaningful full-circle moments.”
For student Stacey Garcia, who plans to apply to the Patient Care Technician, Vocational Nursing and Associate Degree Nursing programs over the next few years, each requiring different colored scrubs, the Threads Career Closet offers a meaningful way to both receive support and give back.
“I took the College Success for Healthcare class a couple of semesters ago, which required khaki-colored scrubs, so I donated mine,” Garcia said. “Now that I’m preparing for another program, I’m using scrubs that were donated by former students. It’s an incredible resource because we don’t have to spend extra money or worry about the cost of uniforms.”
At the Technology campus, the Threads Career Closet also provides professional attire and accepts donations of field-specific clothing and equipment such as safety goggles, boots and gloves required for programs including Welding, Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC), Electrician Technology and Automotive Technology.
The location has partnered with the Share the Love Memorial Scholarship Foundation to operate Daniel’s Closet, a program that honors the memory of Daniel Saldana, a former STC Welding student known for his kindness and passion. Funded by the foundation, Daniel’s Closet provides fire-resistant welding attire to students who may not be able to afford required gear.
“We’re proud to partner with the Share the Love Foundation to support our Welding students,” said Clarissa Gomez, Career and Placement specialist. “Protective gear can be expensive, and this partnership helps ease that burden while ensuring students have what they need to stay safe and succeed.”
Founded by the college’s Career and Employer Services department, the Threads Career Closet has operated at STC’s Pecan campus since 2019, offering students a wide variety of free clothing items and accessories to keep.
Nino-Montes said the resource is also available to alumni for up to one year after graduation to ensure continued support as they enter the workforce.
“At STC, we don’t stop at graduation,” she said. “Alumni can return for clothing and other services, including help connecting with employers, writing resumes and practicing mock interviews. Our support continues whenever they need us.”
She added the Threads Career Closet is designed to be a welcoming, no-questions-asked resource.
“We don’t want students to feel shy or hesitant,” she said. “This is a community service created specifically for them, and anyone is encouraged to use the resource.”
Community donations are always welcome. Donated items should be in good, ready-to-wear condition and appropriate for professional or workplace settings.
For more information about the Threads Career Closet or how to donate, visit studentservices.southtexascollege.edu/careerservices/threads.html or call 956-872-3601.
Information source: STC
