By Sonya Hall
After struggling with addiction for years, Kelly came to Dress for Success River Cities four years rehabilitated. Putting herself through school, she had just graduated with a bachelor’s degree in social work and was about to begin a new job. “Coming to Dress for Success River Cities was such an excellent experience, very helpful, supportive and encouraging,” Kelly says. “All of the staff cheered me on and helped me take the next step needed to begin my career.”
This is just one of thousands of success stories that have walked out the doors of Dress for Success River Cities since its opening in 2007. Part of an international organization, Dr. Sherri Smith and a group of Marshall University students brought Dress for Success to Huntington in 2006. Dress for Success River Cities is the only affiliate in the Mountain State and serves 13 counties in West Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio.
The mission of Dress for Success River Cities is to promote the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. Its programs help women achieve financial independence by addressing their social and economic needs in relation to work, home and community. The nonprofit also helps disadvantaged women find and maintain employment and achieve health and wellness, beginning with professional clothing, provided through suiting appointments, and counseling.
When a client secures a job interview, Dress for Success River Cities provides her with one free business suit as well as the appropriate accessories including a purse, footwear and cosmetic/toiletry items. When she successfully lands the job, she can return for up to one week’s worth of work attire. Dress for Success can dress clients in a variety of employment outfits such as business, business casual, scrubs and khakis/polos/button-up shirts for hospitality workers.
The women Dress for Success River Cities serves are referred by more than 3,000 nonprofit organizations including domestic violence agencies, homeless shelters and job-training programs. They may live or have lived under the poverty level prior to coming to Dress for Success, and they represent all ethnicities and races as well as ages ranging from 18-80+. Seventy percent of the nonprofit’s clients are single mothers who are raising, on average, two to three children.
In addition to employment-appropriate attire, Dress for Success River Cities offers clients a number of programs to help them find and retain employment, including the Career Center, the Going Places Network sponsored by Walmart and the Professional Women’s Group. Dress for Success River Cities serves job-ready women by referral only. Their operations are funded solely by generous community donations and grants and their services are heavily supported by community volunteers.
Beginning with a client’s first visit to Dress for Success River Cities for a suiting appointment, the staff encourages the women to use the nonprofit’s Career Center. The Career Center provides career guidance, educational resources and support to help clients secure and maintain employment while also enhancing their professional skills. Staff members and volunteers work one-on-one with clients to create superior résumés and cover letters, provide career counseling and mock interviews and facilitate access to professional skills training courses.
The Going Places Network by Walmart is a 12-week program for women who have already participated in the Dress for Success River Cities suiting program but have not yet secured employment. Meetings are held once a week for two hours and include a presentation on a job search topic by a professional speaker, an opportunity to share information and network with fellow members and one-on-one job search support in the Career Center. Anyone can struggle with unemployment, but no one has to face this challenge alone.
The Professional Women’s Group (PWG) provides a network of employed Dress for Success River Cities women with support, practical information and inspiration to achieve self-defined success in their careers and lives. After the clients have secured a job, the Professional Women’s Group will help the clients keep their job, build their career and find success.
PWG members discover from financial planners how to save money, how to build or repair credit and how best to invest and plan for the future, home ownership or that next vacation. They learn how to take care of themselves and their families as well as have an exciting and rewarding career. Sessions on health and wellness offer opportunities to focus on nutrition, fitness and other topics. Members can choose to be matched with a mentor for personalized support to help reach career and life goals.
PWG members attend meetings once a month for two hours where they learn from an expert presenter who speaks on a topic relevant to working women. Members have the opportunity at these meetings to network and learn from one another. Membership is free, has many benefits and lasts for a lifetime. To qualify to be a member of PWG, the client’s employment can be full-time or part-time, temporary or permanent in any industry and at any level. One of the benefits of joining the Professional Women’s Group is that the clients receive support from like-minded members and professionals. Members have unique opportunities to network in person during local meetings and online with international members. PWG members also gain access to scholarships and free training opportunities. Additionally, members have unique opportunities to practice and expand leadership skills though conference participation, community action projects and more.
Joining PWG and attending the meetings guarantees each client two hours a month to spend just on themselves. Members have opportunities for makeovers, tickets to events and other fun activities in addition to the monthly meetings. PWG members also receive free professional clothing and exclusive invitations to the Dress for Success River Cities clothing sales where suits, casual wear, shoes and accessories can be purchased for very low prices.
With the expansive programs, clothing and support that Dress for Success River Cities gives the women of the tri-state area, is it no wonder that their clients feel so passionate about them?
To make a clothing or monetary donation, volunteer or find out about current fundraising events, contact Dress for Success River Cities by phone at (304) 522-3011, by e-mail at execdir@dressforsuccessrivercities.org or through its Web site at www.dressforsuccess.org/rivercities.
About the Author
Sonya Hall came to Dress for Success River Cities with 25 years of experience in sales, marketing and advertising. She served as the president of Friends of Hospice and as a member of the Dress for Success River Cities board of directors before accepting her current position as executive director. Hall and her husband, Stos, have four children and reside in Huntington.
