Phoenix Family Resources, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) established in 2022, is the next step in the evolution of Phoenix Used Clothing Corp, Delaware’s first and only female minority owned textile recycler and collector of clothing, household items, furniture, and appliances. Started as an environmental project to reduce the amount of goods entering landfill each year, Phoenix provides reusable items it collects in the course of doing business to individuals, families and the public service community at no cost to them.
By establishing this new nonprofit, Phoenix enshrines its legacy of service to the local community, expanding its commitment beyond the environment to ensure the wellbeing of fellow Delawareans. Phoenix’s Executive Director, Babita Jagnanan, has been recognized by local government agencies, other businesses, fellow nonprofits, and the media in Delaware for her ongoing support of those facing difficult times in our community.
In its three years actively engaged with the public, Phoenix has helped more than 12,000 Delaware residents with economic insecurities resulting from a of a loss of employment, health setbacks, substance use disorder, or the myriad of mental health issues that increased under the cloud of COVID. Through contributions from individuals and partners, Phoenix regularly fills requests for clothing and backpacks for school children, baby supplies for new parents, coats and blankets for the unhoused, bedding and basic appliances for those in substance use disorder abatement programs.
Phoenix Family Resources is a proud ally of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Our Mission
Phoenix Family Resources (PRF) is increasing its ongoing support for recovery through the introduction of job training and educational opportunities for those recovering from opioid and substance use disorders. According to SAMHSA’s Evidence-based Resource Guide Series – Substance Use Disorders Recovery with a Focus on Employment (store.SAMHSA.gov), “Work is one of the best predictors of positive outcomes for individuals with SUD. Individuals who are employed compared to those unemployed are more likely to demonstrate: lower rates of recurrence, higher rates of abstinence, less criminal activity, fewer parole violations, improvements in quality of life, more successful transition from long-term residential treatment back to the community.”
SAMHSA further states, “A longitudinal study of Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) survey data indicated that clients who are employed while in treatment are significantly more likely to successfully complete treatment than unemployed clients. Regardless of whether work is paid or volunteer, individuals who work are more likely to reduce their substance use and better able to maintain sobriety.”
By seeking out and committing to provide job and training opportunities for substance use disorder recoverees through the closet project, PFR will help to address several obstacles faced by these individuals, including:
- Lack of job skills
- Lower education completion
- Poor work history
- Poor interpersonal skills
- Substance use relapse
- Criminal history
- Employer lack of understanding about SUD
- Scheduling conflicts with probation and/or treatment requirements
The goal of the project is for those who have participated in the closet to overcome the challenges listed above and reenter the work force in the community at-large with new confidence, motivation, and skills to land successful placement in a fulfilling job.