Nothing makes me happier than spending quality time visiting with the friends I’ve made in our community through my work as founder of Richmond Family Magazine, and this friend is truly one of RVA’s shining stars. If you haven’t met Sara, be sure to come out to one of Puritan Cleaners’ Coats For Kids events this month (every November) — and bring some coats to donate, too!
Enjoy these highlights from our time together at Stella’s!
RFM: Dry cleaning isn’t exactly the world’s flashiest industry…but you all seem to make it feel like a party with a purpose. How do you keep something so practical feeling so joyful and creative year after year?
Sara: Ha! Dry cleaning is actually this wonderful blend of service and science. Our technicians are certified by the Drycleaning & Laundry Institute, and they’re the best — truly. It’s fun to watch them work their magic every day. Our team is a mix of cultures and personalities, and we get to serve some of the most interesting people in Richmond. When you think about it, there’s nothing closer to us throughout the day than the clothes we wear – and we’ve been there for weddings, board meetings, first interviews, first communions, and all the everyday moments in between. Speaking of magic, we’ve even cared for wardrobes from shows and films that shoot here in town. I still laugh remembering when The Walking Dead was new – we cleaned out a few “blood stains” before realizing they were supposed to be there! After that, we made sure to clean around the zombie stains.
RFM: Coats for Kids has become a Richmond tradition. What’s the secret ingredient that turns a simple coat drive into something that unites schools, churches, sports teams, and neighborhoods?
Sara: Everyone can identify with being cold – we try to keep it neighborly and easy to join. Kids (and grown ups) outgrow their coats all the time. Sharing them with a neighbor in need is such a simple way to impact our community. Back in 1988 when our program started, we’d collect 70 or so each year – now we see 17,000 or more each November. We show up, cheer them on, and share stories – both from the givers and receivers. Making connections is a wonderful part of what we do. We do the good we can while doing what we do best.
RFM: You’ve said before that the best part of your job isn’t the clothes, it’s the people. Can you share a story that really captures what makes your team and your community so special?
Sara: One year, a little boy came up during a coat drive and proudly handed us his own coat because he’d outgrown it. He said, “Someone else can be warm now.” Ugh! To see the world like a child. Our team cleaned and repaired it, and another kid got a warm winter because of him. Moments like that remind us this is about neighbors helping neighbors – we’re just honored to be in the middle. I’m in such a privileged place to see coats being donated at schools and in our stores and then to see them with Lakeisha or Carmelina or Walter being cleaned and THEN getting to see a mom excitedly pick out coats at no charge for her family at the Salvation Army’s Christmas Center? There’s nothing like it!
RFM: When you think about your role, it seems like you’re part event planner, part storyteller, and part cheerleader. How do you blend fun and purpose when you’re leading campaigns like Coats for Kids?
Sara: I think of myself as a connector…or “duct tape” depending on the day. No man (or woman) is an island, right? I’m just one part of a great team. One moment I’m supporting our team’s day-to-day operations, the next I’m having fun on social media, planning our 100K Meals drive for Feed More, party planning with our friends at the Flying Squirrels, or working with schools to show the next generation how to give back. We do dry cleaning and laundry – but we’re about so much more at Puritan – and that comes from the top down. The beauty of being in a small business is that we can cheer each other on. The mission is serious, families need help, but joy pulls people in. Fun opens the door; purpose keeps them coming back.
RFM: After 18+ years at Puritan Cleaners, what keeps you inspired to keep finding new ways to serve the same city – and make a business built on clean clothes feel so full of heart?
Sara: It’s the people, always. Our customers, our team, our city – the Greater Richmond community shows up. I’ve seen our employees rally to help families after a fire, and I’ve watched customers come back year after year with armfuls of coats. We’ve restored pieces of history – both on a national level and personal – for our clients. Dry cleaning might not seem glamorous, but it’s deeply human. Clothes are part of people’s lives, and serving with kindness and creativity never gets old. Our team is the heartbeat of our company. They show up every day, ready to deliver quality and care to such a wide variety of items and people. I’m proud to be on their team. Our clients and friends support us and trust us when we put out a call to action. Gratitude doesn’t even cover the feeling – I keep coming back to this word but really, it’s just MAGIC and we’re so thankful to be part of the community we are in.
To learn more about Puritan Cleaners’ Coats For Kids initiative, including volunteer opportunities, visit Coats For Kids – Puritan Cleaners.
