Alfred Dunner Giving Truckload of New Clothing to Tuscaloosa Tornado Survivors

Members of Zeta Beta Tau fraternity at the University of Alabama are about to become experts in women’s clothing.

Alabama ZBT alumnus David Aresty has arranged for a donation of a trailer filled with thousands of items of new women’s clothing from the Alfred Dunner and Sunset Rd. Spring and Summer lines. The clothing will be distributed to Alabama tornado survivors through Dressing Up! Tuscaloosa.

Aresty is a vice president with Alfred Dunner, and wife Patti is also an Alabama alumna. Ken Grodner of Birmingham had been in contact with them in New Jersey to discuss the ZBT house’s capital campaign before the tornadoes hit. They had dinner together just after the storm, and Aresty said he had to be involved in the recovery.

The clothing will be available at Central High School in Tuscaloosa from June 9 to 14. Any woman who provides proper identification information from FEMA, the American Red Cross or Tuscaloosa Temporary Emergency Services will be eligible. Every tornado survivor who qualifies will be provided several Alfred Dunner outfits. Volunteer personal shoppers will help the women in making their selections.

Plans are also being made to offer complimentary haircuts and makeup tips in conjunction with the clothing distribution during the kickoff event on June 9.

If any product remains after June 14, it will be distributed in other communities throughout the state that were affected by the April tornadoes.

Alabama ZBT is providing resources and manpower for Dressing Up! Tuscaloosa, and recruiting other campus Greeks to assist.

The university’s College of Human Environmental Sciences secured the distribution location and is guiding proper staging for the event. The college offers a major in fashion retailing.

Those two groups, along with MeetUP for Change, are recruiting volunteers for the event. Setup will begin on May 31, and distribution will be from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. June 9 to 14.

Current estimates are that 2,375 homes in Tuscaloosa county were destroyed and another 2,349 had major damage.