Photo by Waldemar on UnsplashThe owner of a California dry cleaner is showing those down on their luck that the community wants them to succeed—so he’s ensuring they look their best as they get ready for their next big break.
After talking to fellow owners of dry cleaners about how they could give something back to their communities, he decided to offer speedy cleaning and pressing of clothes for free to any unemployed customer heading to a job interview.
At Lux Cleaning and Alterations on 1610 W. Campbell in San Jose, owner Ali Shirkhodaei says the pro bono work is about fulfilling his long-held ambition to infuse his career with acts of kindness.
“I think it will definitely give them some hope that the community they live in cares about them,” he told San José Spotlight. “It’s not about just getting, it’s about giving. That’s the part that brings all of us joy.”
Immigrating to the United States from Iran in 1986, Ali wasn’t sure where he’d find work, even though he possessed a degree in molecular biology. When no white-collar career opportunities came knocking, he started Lux Cleaners, which became a super-successful business in the Silicon Valley.
@sanjosespotlight Ali Shirkhodaei, owner of Lux Cleaners & Alterations in Campbell, offers free cleanings to anyone unemployed and heading to a job interview. Read more at SanJoseSpotlight.com. #campbell #westvalley #siliconvalley #bayarea #drycleaning #smallbusiness #unemployed #smallactsofkindness ♬ Chill Kitty (Lofi) - The Machinist Beats
He says about 5 to 10 people a week arrive to take advantage of his generosity.
Spotlight reports that just recently, a woman came to him for a shirt pressing en route to a tech company interview and, afterward, she stopped by to tell Shirkhodaei that she got the job—all before leaving a 5-star Yelp review saying “I definitely felt the love of my community.”
Ali said he and his team were more excited than she was.
Spotlight described him as possessing a typical immigrant work ethic: finishing in four days what other tailors will do in four weeks, and cleaning complicated items like Indian sarees and wedding dresses. He does it all with a smile, hoping his customers pay forward the kindness elsewhere.
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“That’s one of the things that I love about having a small business and dealing with people on a daily basis,” he told the Spotlight. “I see many different faces every day and believe me, a small smile can change their day.”
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