Pearl’s Closet Was a Life Saver

A Glance Back story written by Cypress Cove Resident Donna Miceli

It usually takes some time for new residents to find and explore Pearl’s Closet, but for Maude Scolaro the need for the items available there was almost immediate. On the day she was due to move into her apartment, she got a call that changed everything— for her and for Pearl’s Closet.

On a Tuesday morning in July 2014, Maude was in her new apartment at Cypress Cove waiting for word that the moving truck with belongings from her former home in Arizona had arrived. Sadly, when the call finally came, it wasn’t the truck driver. It was an insurance adjuster with the shocking news that she was not going to get her delivery because the moving truck driver had been involved in an accident that killed him and burned up everything in the truck.

“That’s when I discovered Pearl’s Closet,” Maude remembered. “I had only brought three pairs of pants with me, and there were clothes in there that were my size.” She was able to rebuild her wardrobe easily and at no cost.

It took some time, but as soon as Maude had finished dealing with the insurance adjuster and had finally settled into her apartment, she started helping out at Pearl’s Closet. “I just sort of got into it,” she explained. “It was something for me to do and it was a lifesaver for me.” Before long, she became the volunteer manager.

A native of Detroit, Michigan, mother of five and former school principal, she was well-suited to bring some much-needed organization to this increasingly popular spot.

According to former activities director Mil Puglisi, the need for a “community closet” arose when residents started moving into Cypress Cove in 1999. Many of them had moved too many things, particularly clothing, that they didn’t have room for in their apartments (and didn’t really need). Fortunately, there was an empty room available on the first floor that could serve the purpose.

When it became clear the closet needed a name, the executive director at that time decided it should be named for the person who lived closest to the closet. That just happened to be Pearl Brown, one of our original residents. From that day forward, it has been known as “Pearl’s Closet.” There was no manager at that time, but over the years, various residents have pitched in to help keep it clean and as organized as possible.

Under Maude’s leadership, and with the help of a team of volunteers, Pearl’s Closet has been reorganized and its purpose has been clarified, as follows: “The intent is not to collect items that need to be donated to Goodwill, but to receive items that might be utilized by residents.” In addition to clothing and jewelry, items placed in Pearl’s Closet can include such things as housewares, small appliances, small furniture items, greeting cards, and holiday decorations. Residents should not place items such as electronics, food, candles, or broken, dirty, torn or unusable items in Pearl’s Closet.

After more than seven years and countless hours spent organizing, cleaning and packing unclaimed items for pickup by Goodwill, Maude has decided it is time for her to turn the management of Pearl’s Closet over to Cypress Cove resident Ruth Woodham and Mary Manville, future resident of The Oaks.

Maude plans to remain on the committee as a consultant and to help with packing. “Maude is a very special person,” Ruth Woodham commented. “As manager of Pearl’s Closet, she was a dynamo. She was so good, not only with her people skills but also her organizational skills. She knew everyone who walked into Pearl’s by name.

Her downfall was that she did too much. For example, when a resident was moving or a family was cleaning out an apartment, they would call her and she would spend days, sometimes weeks, helping them. We’re hoping she will still be part of the group. It was a pleasure to work with her.”