Dry cleaning service helps job seekers

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - When the economy tanked in the fall of 2008, Mark Jones, owner of the Master Cleaners dry cleaning chain wanted to help.

It began offering free dry cleaning to unemployed people needing a pressed suit for a job interview.

“We do it because there's a need,” said Jones.

That need has gone on longer than Jones expected, and his company will continue to offer its free service until the local economy improves.

“We just feel convicted that we're in really bad economic times, and there's a lot of people in despair,” said Jones, “So it's harder than ever for people to get a job. And so whatever we can do to give them a leg up, you know, make them look good for the job, just makes us feel good.”

His own business has felt the effects of our shaky economy -- fewer customer trips to his store and a more casually dressed culture.

But through it all, he maintains that his company is playing a role in getting people back to work.

“They've given us thank you letters, phone calls, “We got the job.’ It's really a neat thing a lot of neat stories out there.  A lot of times we don't even know the story,” said Jones.

He wants to hear more stories from customers and to know that Master Cleaners is helping them land jobs.

And there's one more part to this story, Jones partners with Catholic Social Services to distribute donated clothing, which they accept and clean.         

Master Cleaners asks you for your driver's license and to fill out a form in order to take advantage of the free service.