She’s been interviewed by television stations, both in Cleveland and in Columbus. Darlene Davis thinks globally and acts locally. Darlene and her husband, Mark, are 40-year residents of North Royalton; she has a long history of volunteering. She has been a Registered Nurse for 44 years and continues to work a few times a month at the Cleveland Clinic. She is a member of North Royalton Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and is in the Ohio Medical Reserve Corps. She stays connected with her daughters and their families, she is an avid gardener, she feeds the blue birds and wild turkeys in the winter, and she sings in her church choir just to keep busy. But her real work right now is her true passion. Darlene is the founder and passionate promoter of Georgette’s Closet, an all-volunteer clothing store dedicated to the specific traditional clothing needs of the many refugee women from Afghanistan that have arrived in the Cleveland area with very little clothing for their families and nothing for themselves. Darlene says, “When the U.S. pulled out of Afghanistan in August of 2021, families escaped with the clothes on their backs and perhaps a duffle bag of clothing for the family. Often that bag was lost in transit, and they arrived in cold Cleveland with the same clothes they left with in August.”
Darlene began volunteering with the United States Committee on Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) five years ago when their priest from the Community of St. Peter’s Parish asked for volunteers to clean apartments or housing for arriving families from all over the globe. “There are so many volunteer opportunities to help refugee families, and more volunteers are always needed. Volunteers can help families learn the bus system, get to medical appointments, grocery shop, assemble house kits, and even help with administrative work at the main office. So much is needed and there are so many opportunities to help. Refugee arrivals slowed down a lot during the Covid pandemic, but then when the U.S. pulled out of Afghanistan in August of 2021 things got busy. Once I learned of the evacuation of Afghan families who helped the US fight the war in Afghanistan, I knew there would be more refugees and an increased need for volunteers. I reconnected with USCRI CLE field office and got back to work doing whatever was needed.”
Darlene ended up volunteering 40 to 60 hours per week organizing and running the donation center for the house donations they receive. “An immigrant family receives a house kit with the most basic items. A kit will include: a plate, bowl, cup, knife, fork, spoon, set of sheets and one blanket and a bath towel per person; a very basic kitchen set with utensils and cookware, some cleaning supplies, and toiletries, definitely just the very basics.” Immigrants from a hundred years ago had similar stories of coming with very little or nothing at all.
For the arriving refuges, the need for basic household goods is one thing, but the issue of clothing is another. Darlene’s own mother and grandparents left Alsace in 1949, the region Germany and France fought over for more than a century. Darlene looked at pictures that her mother had taken during the voyage to the U.S. Her grandmother had a different dress in each picture but her mom, Georgette, didn’t. “When I asked my mom why she was wearing the same dress both nights she told me she only had ‘one nice dress.’ Her answer really struck me with sadness. I realized what little she was able to bring with her to her new country.” This is when Georgette’s Closet, named in honor and memory of her mother, was born. At Georgette’s Closet, Afghan ladies can receive a gift of one outfit of the traditional style of salwar kameez. They are practical, pretty, and modest according to religious tradition.
A nice dress or kameez just lifts the spirits of these ladies who faced the danger of escaping their home with their families. The typical outfit has a baggy type of pant, the salwar, that allows for movement and a knee length, long sleeved dress/tunic, kameez, that can be simple for everyday wear or very elaborate for religious celebrations and visiting. Salwar kameez have a matching long scarf called a hijab that covers the head and shoulders. The ladies love the beauty of the fabrics and the colors. What lady doesn’t like to feel beautiful and empowered? That is Darlene’s belief, and she has collected many Salwar-Kameez to stock Georgette’s closet.
Darlene says, “When I started, I didn’t think I’d have enough donations and I almost dropped this whole project thinking, ‘I can’t do this,’ but the community responded,” and she received many garments, “It’s very exciting.”
The donations have come from the Indian and Pakistani communities. The sleeves need to be altered because most of these garments have short sleeves and the Afghan women wear long sleeves. Darlene is looking for volunteers who can help with alterations of the garments who can sew either at their home or at the boutique.
Another project is collecting working sewing machines. “The sewing machine has two elements,” explains Darlene. “One is to provide a sewing room at Georgette’s Closet where several women can gather together and sew for themselves or their children. This will allow some time for social gathering of Afghan women since many women have no family or friends in the States. Secondly, a sewing machine could be loaned for several weeks allowing the women to sew at home. This may be preferred for women with small children.”
“We also need sewing thread, bobbins, needles, machine needles, trims, seam bindings, elastic for waist bands, and other sewing notions. Fabric is also needed; cotton and cotton polyester blends are always good, plain colors, paisley prints, flowers, and geometric designs are most preferred. Two yards or more of a fabric could make a Kameez or Salwar and would be especially appreciated.
Darlene works directly with the Afghan women who are recommended by several charitable organizations that help to resettle Afghan refugees who fled in front of the Taliban take over. Shakiba, a close friend, is an Afghan woman who Darlene met earlier in 2018. Shakiba helps others get settled, and her daughter, a high school student, is able to translate for the program. Iqra speaks five languages, Pashto, Urdu, Farsi, Dari and her school language, English. “We need more light in the world, we need to help each other,” says Darlene. Helping each other is what we are called to do. It answers the gospel question, “Who is my neighbor?”
Fox 8 News did a story on Darlene’s efforts; she is one of four finalists for this year’s “Remarkable Woman” award. If you have sewing items or household items for donation, you can contact Darlene Davis at Georgettescloset322@gmail.com to arrange for pickup. Monetary donations are gratefully accepted. If you are interested in volunteering with USCRI, please contact the USCRI Cleveland Field Office at https://refugees.org/uscri-cleveland/.
By LINDA KWARCIANY
Contributing Writer
