Cleaning up The Closet

Source: Times Community Newspapers

Fairfax County

By Gregg MacDonald

gmacdonald@timespapers.com

FRIDAY, JUNE 23 2006 (updated June 4, 2007)

These recent changes have resulted in some loyal shoppers referring to the 31-year-old store as "The New Closet."

Store manager Aaron Sawyer gets a kick out of that.

"Yeah, we cleaned up and got more organized and efficient," he said. "I guess people are beginning to notice."

Sawyer became the new manager of The Closet in December 2004 and claims he has not had a day off yet.

"It's truly a mission for me," the former technology firm owner said. "I worked for 30 years- including 15 as the head of my own tech firm- before coming here, but this is something else."

Sawyer replaced Leomia Brunson, who managed the store for 27 years. Sawyer called Brunson, who still volunteers her time to the store, his "idol."

"The Closet is such an important part of my life," Brunson said, "that I couldn't just no longer be a part of it."

"She still comes around to abuse me," Sawyer joked.

Many of The Closet's 12 paid staffers, as well as volunteers from various area places of worship, have noticed Sawyer's influence since taking over.

"It's wonderful," said volunteer Sheila Barrett of the Shor Shim Synagogue in Reston, "There are lots of innovative changes."

Janet Devine, a volunteer from St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Herndon, agreed that "it's much easier to get around."

"I do what I can," Sawyer responded. "But as much as we fulfill the needs of others, we also have our own needs. The store is in desperate need of storage, shopping bags and a new truck."

Sawyer said many people do not realize The Closet is self-sustaining and does not receive any federal or state aid.

"We aid every social service in Fairfax County, all based on our sales," he said. "So come on out and do some shopping at the 'new' Closet," he chuckled.

The Closet is open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.