Career Closet seeks donations to replace damaged clothing & shoes

In December 2025, just before Winter Break, a water line break in the Main Building caused significant damage to the inventory of the Cincinnati State Career Closet, a vital resource for students.

The Career Closet provides professional clothing and accessories, at no cost, to students who need attire for interviews, job fairs, co-op or internship assignments, class presentations, or other occasions where professional attire is expected.

Co-op Coordinator Brian Hooten, who facilitates Career Closet services, said, “About half of our men’s and women’s inventory was damaged.”

“The women’s shoes, men’s button-down shirts, and suit sets were affected, and the water damage was severe enough to bend one of the clothing racks.”

“Many items were completely soaked and had developed a strong odor, so we had no choice but to discard the unsalvageable items,” Brian added.

Click to watch a WCPO (Channel 9) report on the damage and donations

Donations of clothing or money are appreciated

To continue supporting students, the Career Closet is seeking donations of clothing, gift cards, and monetary gifts that can be used to purchase replacements. 

The most urgently needed items are:

• Women’s dress shoes (sizes 5-7, and 9+)
• Men’s suits in sizes 34R–44R
• Men’s dress shirts in sizes Small–XL or neck sizes 14-18.5

Funds can be donated online via the Cincinnati State Foundation using the “Donate Now” page of the Cincinnati State website. Select “Career Closet” from the dropdown list on the Donate Now page.

Brian encourages supporters to reach out to external organizations or partners you’re aware of who might be willing to assist in the efforts to rebuild the Career Closet inventory.

Brian also thanked the College Facilities team and the Career Closet’s student workers (Jon, Nora, Destini, Lindsey, and Tiffanie) for “stepping up during this challenging time by cleaning the space, sorting through all of the damaged items, and safely disposing of what could not be salvaged.”

“They dedicated significant time and effort to restoring the Closet to a functional and operational state. and I’m extremely grateful for their support and commitment,” Brian said.

If you have questions, please send a message to careercloset@cincinnatistate.edu.