WCTC Career Closet expands through new partnership with St. Vincent de Paul-Waukesha Council

“This partnership allows our teams to spend less time sorting and managing donations and more time doing what we do best: connecting with and supporting our students.” --Michael Lango, WCTC associate vice provost for Student Affairs

PEWAUKEE, Wis. (Monday, Nov. 9, 2026) -- In the 2023-24 academic year, Waukesha County Technical College held its first two Career Closet pop-up shops, designed to help students dress for success in job interviews, internships or any professional setting. The College identified the need for a resource where students could access professional attire, uniforms, steel-toed boots, work gloves, scrubs and other clothing items at no cost.

That year, more than 2,300 new and gently-used clothing items were collected during the donation drives leading up to the corresponding fall and spring pop-up shops – in which more than 1,570 items were claimed. To date, more than 14,000 items of clothing have been collected and nearly 7,000 items have been provided to students. 

Because of that tremendous growth, WCTC is beginning a new partnership with St. Vincent de Paul-Waukesha Council to handle logistics and streamline operations related to the Career Closet as well as offer additional services to students in need.

“This partnership allows our teams to spend less time sorting and managing donations and more time doing what we do best: connecting with and supporting our students,” said Michael Lango, associate vice provost for Student Affairs.

While the Career Closet events have been held primarily at the Pewaukee Campus, moving forward, these events will also be held at the Waukesha Campus.

First donation drive this weekend at Waukesha Campus

As part of the new arrangement, SVDP will lead collection drives at least twice a year, with assistance from WCTC students and staff. The first donation drive is this weekend (and community members are encouraged to drop off items):

• Dates: Saturday, Nov. 14 and Sunday, Nov. 15
• Hours: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Location: WCTC Waukesha Campus, 327 E. Broadway, downtown Waukesha 
• Items to be collected: Clothing, linens, shoes, purses and other soft goods

Upcoming Career Closet events are planned for March 30-April 1 (Pewaukee Campus) and April 6 to 7 (Waukesha Campus); any WCTC student can stop by and select up to six items. (Dates for future donation drives are still being determined.)

Sustainable practices benefit students

Items from the WCTC drives will be inspected and sorted by SVDP staff, who will then curate a selection of work/business attire most requested by students, based on previous demand. These garments will be available at future Career Closet events, while other items will be sold at SVDP thrift stores or repurposed for textile recycling – with a portion of funds benefiting WCTC students. 
That money will assist students who are navigating serious hardships such as homelessness, domestic violence, a sudden medical emergency or other life challenges. WCTC student success advocates will work with these individuals to determine if they are eligible for additional help from SVDP.

Ryan Bay, SVDP’s senior director of business operations, said WCTC is the first college in the area to partner with the organization, which has a strong focus on “neighbors helping neighbors.”
“By being able to extend our hand and help people who are going to school, we are continuing to help our neighbors in need,” he said.