Conversations with Laura Dellutri

Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Dellutri.

Hi Laura, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My story is like a Cinderella tale. I began as a residential house cleaner, scrubbing floors on my hands and knees. My business grew rapidly, and I eventually hired employees, expanded into cleaning commercial buildings, and even became a consultant, creating training programs for some of the nation’s largest janitorial companies. Subsequently, I developed a program focused on “How to Start a Cleaning Business” and offered it as a non-accredited course for entrepreneurs, teaching it at five community colleges. This journey led me to write a book titled “Speed Cleaning 101,” published by Meredith Books in 1995. This opened doors to media tours and television appearances on ABC’s The View, CBS’s The Early Show, Soap Talk, Discovery Channel, and numerous local television news stations, including ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX. I evolved into an expert spokesperson for major Fortune 500 companies such as Swiffer, Febreze, Shark, Wisconsin Cheese, and Clorox.

After three decades of cleaning, television work, and being a spokesperson, I decided to pursue something close to my heart: assisting homeless and abused families facing financial hardships. Uncertain about how to proceed, I prayed fervently for guidance and shared my vision with a friend during a trip to Florida. I told her about my sister, who had struggled with mental illness and addiction and had always dreamed of opening a thrift store that provided free clothing to those in need. My friend embraced the idea, and fate seemed to affirm our decision when we spotted a billboard on the interstate that read “New to You Boutique” – the exact name my sister had envisioned for her store. It became clear to both of us that we needed to move forward with the concept of a free store offering clothing to those in need.

The next step involved establishing a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization named the Angel Clothing Foundation and ordering lettering for the front window that read “New to You Boutique” in memory of my sister’s dream.

Our goal is to make everyone who enters our doors feel valued and cared for, and we strive to learn their stories. By understanding their stories, we can connect them with additional resources to provide assistance and encouragement. We aim to inspire and spread love and positivity through our store. In just five months, we’ve distributed $75,000 worth of free clothing and helped clothe over 1,000 individuals. Our volunteers are exceptional, and I couldn’t have done this without them. The demand for children’s clothing and shoes of all sizes exceeds our expectations in Johnson County, Jackson County, Wyandotte County, and Miami County.

Alright, let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
While it was exhilarating to be in the green room with celebrities, the personal challenge of constant travel and being away from my family weighed heavily on me. I held onto my mentor’s advice: “No success in life can compensate for failure in the home.” Guided by this wisdom, I declined opportunities, such as hosting a five-day-a-week morning show in Florida, which would have required uprooting my children’s lives and moving to another state.

Let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
In life, I take the greatest pride in making a positive difference in the lives of others. It’s an honor to provide a homeless person with a new coat, offer an emotionally battered woman a new wardrobe, and witness the pure joy in a child’s eyes when they receive a new pair of tennis shoes.

What sets our FREE clothing boutique apart is our commitment to creating a unique and uplifting experience from the moment someone walks through our door. Visitors are greeted with warm smiles from our dedicated volunteers and offered refreshments and a comfortable place to relax. Our boutique is adorned with angel wings, white couches, inspirational quotes, a dressing room, a coffee bar, and a jewelry area. We offer sections for infants, maternity, children, men, and women. Our objective is to inspire and uplift those who are struggling in their daily lives. We consider every donor who supports us financially and contributes clothing to be one of our “Angels” on Earth. We even have prominent white angel wings in our boutique where we take photos of our donors and share them on social media.

In addition to the “Angel Wing” photos, we’ve included white couches because they provide a welcoming and open space for one-on-one conversations with our visitors. We aim to learn their stories and identify additional resources to assist them with their current challenges. These personal interactions on the couch can be transformative. I vividly recall one instance where a man had walked all the way from Oklahoma with dilapidated shoes and sore feet. We provided him with new shoes, a meal, grooming items, and a fresh outfit. It was a deeply emotional moment for both of us, as he had been affected by drugs and a difficult past. His story is just one example of the many lives we’ve touched.

We’ve also had a military veteran and his wife come in seeking clothing for their two grandchildren, whom they were raising. They couldn’t afford Back-to-School clothes or shoes, but with the help of grants, we provided light-up tennis shoes and essential clothing. Their gratitude was heartwarming.

One day, a woman living in her car came to our store. We sat down on the couch and had a heartfelt conversation. It was evident that she was struggling with meth addiction, with red marks on her face as evidence. She was deeply moved by the love and warmth she felt at the boutique and mentioned that she had never experienced a non-judgmental conversation like ours. We assigned her a personal shopper and provided her with clothing, shoes, a purse, and more. The next day, she returned, looking transformed in her new outfit, and began calling us her “Family.” She referred others in need to our boutique. She’s now off drugs, has found housing with the help of the Life Journey Foundation, and her transformation has been truly inspiring. None of this would be possible without the incredible generosity of our donors and the dedication of our volunteers. We always need financial support to cover overhead costs, as we operate with 100% volunteers, ensuring that every penny goes toward helping those in need.

The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you, and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
Yes, COVID-19 has had an impact on many lives. After losing two family members during this crisis, I’ve learned some valuable lessons that I’d like to share. Being a source of love and positivity to others and making a difference in their lives can bring immense fulfillment. When you volunteer to help another human being, your own problems tend to diminish. Most importantly, spreading love, kindness, and a simple smile can warm the hearts of those around you.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.angelclothingfoundation.com
• Instagram: AngelClothingfoundation
• Facebook: Angel Clothing Foundation