Dress for the job you want, not the job you have, the old adage goes. But what if you can’t afford the clothing required for the job you want or you don’t have a job currently? How can people network and meet the right contacts if they can’t dress to impress? It’s an issue facing quite a few of our fellow St. Louisans.
Enter—the professional clothing drive.
As part of American Eagle Credit Union’s 80th anniversary, they’re performing random acts of kindness all over the St. Louis area. We put out the word that we needed gently used professional clothing and BOY, did people deliver.
I met up with volunteers from American Eagle Credit Union to deliver the bounty of fashions to two local non-profits, and when the van doors opened, I was blown away by the sheer amount of clothing—dresses, suits and styles for men and women, many with designer labels.
Our first stop was Kingdom House on South 11th street. I’ve had the pleasure of working with this organization in the past. They have been around since 1902, founded by a shoe manufacturing executive who wanted to help the poor, and 117 years later, they are still providing critical social services to all ages, from infants to senior citizens. In 2016, Kingdom House was a Focus St. Louis What's Right With The Region! honoree.
Assistant Executive Director Jennifer March was thrilled with the fashion drop. They work with teens and adults on job readiness on their path to financial stability and social capital building.
Our next stop was Community Women Against Hardship (CWAH) Family Support Center on West Belle Avenue. Co-founder Gloria Taylor watched as we piled fashions across numerous tables. She told me the clothing would not only help people applying for jobs, but also would help people participate more in our society.
“When you look good, you feel good,” Taylor said. And when people don’t have anything nice to wear, they tend to stay away from important places and social functions where they could meet people—people who could be helpful. After all, in St. Louis even more than other places, it is all about who you know.
Similar to Kingdom House, CWAH helps families struggling with poverty to become more self-sufficient. In 2013, they received the President’s Volunteer Service Award from President Obama for addressing the most pressing needs in the community.
First of all, it is so inspiring to meet people like Gloria Taylor, who started CWAH from scratch after seeing a need in the community and to see the passion that drives her every day. It’s also amazing to see an organization like Kingdom House, around for more than a century, but still meeting the needs of people here and now.
What a great way to celebrate an 80th anniversary, with random acts of kindness around the community! Thanks to American Eagle Credit Union for letting me be a part of it.