At the Elmwood Correctional Facility, inmate Mayra sees one color everywhere: neon orange, and she’s tired of it.

When the chance arose to volunteer sorting and restocking civilian clothing at the facility’s first Goodwill store for incarcerated women, the fashion enthusiast eagerly accepted the opportunity.

“I work in the laundry (at Elmwood), where we sort the same color outfits. Handling different clothes makes time pass faster and helps us feel normal,” Mayra shared recently while standing in the store, close to a rack of colorful shirts and sweaters.

The Santa Clara Sheriff’s Office did not disclose the last names of the inmates to maintain their privacy.

Goodwill of Silicon Valley has opened its first store inside Elmwood to provide women with hands-on retail training and to supply inmates with free clothes upon their release. For volunteers like Mayra and the women who shop there, the store serves as a link to the outside world.

The store is a converted storage unit filled with various second-hand clothing items, including shirts, sweaters, pants, shoes, underwear, and socks, complete with a small dressing room and checkout counter. Women who exhibit good behavior and complete a training program at Elmwood are offered the chance to volunteer, assisting fellow inmates in shopping and learning to operate equipment like a cash register, which uses fake barcodes to simulate the checkout process.

Jessica Castello, vice president of retail at Goodwill of Silicon Valley, stated that the program equips women with the tools and confidence to improve their lives. The volunteers gain practical work experience and can apply for retail positions, especially at Goodwill stores, upon their release. “They can come directly to us, knowing how to do the job,” Castello noted.

Goodwill of Silicon Valley operates 17 retail stores in the region, including one on Calaveras in Milpitas.

This initiative is timely, as national data indicates that formerly incarcerated individuals face an unemployment rate exceeding 27%. Approximately 70 million people in the U.S. have an arrest or conviction record, with more than 600,000 released from jail each year.

Santa Clara County has the fifth-largest jail system in California and ranks among the 20 largest systems in the country, with about 30,000 arrestees booked annually, according to the county’s Sheriff’s Office.

With the clothing store on-site, women can leave the facility with dignity and respect, according to Capt. Rita Roland, who oversees Elmwood. Upon release, inmates typically receive a plastic bag containing the clothes they were wearing at the time of their arrest, which can be a distressing experience. “Clothes can be soiled or stained,” Roland explained. “Even if clean, they may trigger memories of the arrest.”

Goodwill volunteer Sinica recalled her arrival at the facility, wearing only a hospital gown and socks. As she changed into an orange jumpsuit, she wondered what clothes she would have upon her release. Now, she appreciates the chance to choose her outfit.

“Having this program come in while I’m incarcerated is mind-blowing. It’s something I never expected,” she said during a recent visit to the store.

For fellow inmate Jessica, volunteering at the store brings back memories of working at the Goodwill store in San Jose before her incarceration. She feels her retail skills returning and cherishes the simpler times. “I love it because the girls come in, tearing up and smiling that we have this available,” she remarked.

Mayra, who has no prior retail experience, considers her time in this supportive work environment transformative. “We’re not in jail. We’re making a difference,” she said.