Why I Volunteer at Dress for Success®

I participated in an Ambassador Program on behalf of Influence Central for Vanity Fair Lingerie. I received product samples to facilitate my review and compensation to thank me for my participation.

As a Dress for Success® volunteer, I can personally tell you how much I’ve loved working with this not-for-profit organization. I understand the importance of preparation and having a positive self-image and confidence. But if you were to ask me if I’ve always thought positively of myself and if I’ve always had confidence, I’d have to say no. I do believe the way we see ourselves on the outside can oftentimes affect how we feel about ourselves on the inside. As a single mom at one point in my life, I felt little self-worth about myself because of a variety of external factors and the environment I was living in. You want so badly to get out of the challenges you’re facing, but you feel like you’re stuck. At the time I was a single mom, I was jobless and living with close to nothing to my name. I knew I needed resources and training to prepare for the interview but felt like I had nowhere to turn.

That’s where Dress for Success® comes in to help women, who like me at one point, needed support and training to get out of where they were economically to reach their goals. Dress for Success® is an international not-for-profit organization that promotes 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.

As a Sr. Corporate Recruiter I know what a job means for others – an opportunity to bring in an income to support their family and a way to help others better their lives and learn new things that stretches them. I help to shape the economy and I make a difference in the life of each person who has accepted a position at our company. As a mother of four, a job means providing for my family, to make sure there’s food on the table, and that I’m contributing my serving towards the betterment of this world. A job is not just a job to me. It’s my self-worth, my independence, and my ability to use the purpose and talents God has given me to help others and giving to others in their time of need. A job means servanthood. A job means confidence. A job is my career and I want to provide excellence in all that I do in my career.

What are some of the things I do as a volunteer at Dress for Success®? There are so many things we can do to help women who need guidance and support! Dress for Success® is popularly known for its suiting program, providing professional attire to women in need for job interviews that they have secured.

I’d say the biggest reason Dress for Success® is successful, is the employment retention programs they offer – it is truly the cornerstone of the organization. Not only do they help women with personal suitings, Dress for Success® gives women the tools to help them get back to work and assist them in remaining employed, as well as progressing in their positions until they have reached their desired level of professional achievement and personal fulfillment. I too have my own personal story as a Working Mom and Career Woman that I shared last month.

As a volunteer I experienced the Dress for Success® career centers promoting confidence and professionalism by pairing clients with staff members who work one-on-one with them. Dress for Success® believes that “self-sufficiency” is more than just a suit or a job – it is an overall commitment to being independent in all aspects of life. During my own struggles as a single mother trying to find employment, I too wanted independence and to have the opportunity to be successful. I am thankful for not-for-profit organizations like Dress for Success® and I encourage you to volunteer. And if you need support in seeking and preparing for employment, be sure to connect with a local Dress for Success® office near you. It truly is a life-changer!

Be sure to check out more detailed information about Dress for Success® and its partnership with Vanity Fair Lingerie:
·Dress for Success® website: https://www.dressforsuccess.org/
·Dress for Success® Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DressForSuccess
·Dress for Success® Twitter: https://twitter.com/dressforsuccess (@dressforsuccess)
·Vanity Fair Women Who Do website: http://shop.vanityfairlingerie.com/info/For_Women_Who_Do

Oh, and follow along my ambassadorship partnership with Vanity Fair Lingerie online using hashtag #WomenWhoDo and #BrasChangeLives! You can also find Vanity Fair Lingerie on Facebook, Twitter (@ShopVanityFair), and Instagram (@ShopVanityFair).