Hunger And Health Coalition Volunteers
Help Individuals Dress For Success
Boutique Opens Friday, March 16

By Sherrie Norris

You’ve probably heard about Dress for Success opportunities that give men and women the chance to find just the right attire for a promising career. Most know that without a job, it’s not easy to buy an impressive suit for an interview. Keeping a job also may weigh heavily upon one’s appearance and pride in his or her work efforts, which often includes “the right clothes for the job.”

Thanks to the Hunger and Health Coalition and a couple of caring volunteers who came up with a new concept for the area, the Professional Clothes Closet, designed in similar fashion after the nationally-recognized Dress for Success program, is now being offered in The High Country.

Beginning Friday, March 16, 2007, Judith Domer and Jean Brooks will have a vacant room at the Coalition transformed into an exciting shop for men and women who need help finding the right clothes, shoes and accessories for a professional setting.

Fortuna describes how the program was initiated by Domer and Brooks, both recent retirees who discovered a surplus of nice work clothes that were no longer useful to them but should be put to good use. “They wondered who could benefit most from these clothes, and determined that low-income people applying for jobs and interviewing needed a resource for professional wear.”

While not necessarily a Coalition initiative, Domer tells us, it’s the perfect place to offer such a service. “We are not charging for the items and will depend on the community for regular donations to keep us going.” She adds, “We will have to limit the number of outfits that can be taken at one time, so that not all the good things disappear at once. We also hope to work closely with other agencies as referral sources.”

While open on Fridays only, 10am – 4:30pm. Fortuna stresses, “At this time, clients must have a referral from a local agency to utilize the program. Participants can shop twice each year, once during the spring and summer season and another during the fall and winter.”

Tax-deductible donations of clothing, shoes and accessories will be needed as well as volunteers to prepare the clothing and staff the room. So, now with a new destination in mind for your slightly and lightly used suits, blouses, shirts, ties, handbags, shoes, etc. get busy cleaning out those closets and help someone share the joy of dressing for success. It worked well for you – now you can pave the way for others.

The Hunger & Health Coalition, Inc. is a High Country United Way partner.

For more information, visit 141 Health Center Drive Boone, NC 2860, call (828).262.1628, Fax 828.262.0649 e-mail hungerc@bellsouth.net or visit www.hungercoalition.com