After spending most of her adult life as a homemaker and mother of four, Lisa Poston had trouble finding a job after moving to Oklahoma City. Needing to support her family, she made the decision to go back to school with the assistance of the BEST (Basic Education Skills Training) program at the Department of Human Services.
Lisa enrolled in an administrative assistant class at Metro Tech, where she became the class president of her Business Professionals of America chapter and earned the “Program Student of the Year” Award.
Suited for Success helped Lisa grow her professional wardrobe and helped change her strictly “jeans and a T-shirt” ways.
“Suited for Success not only helped me with clothing, but they also gave me the confidence to get back into the workforce,” Lisa says.
Suited for Success helps women achieve self-sufficiency by providing professional clothing and career development services. The clothes are provided to clients at no charge, and the work-appropriate attire is donated to the nonprofit by women in the community and other organizations.
"Most of the clothes are gently worn and donated by people here in the community," says Susan Walton, executive director. "Clients are referred to us, and we try to make Suited for Success like being in a high-end boutique. We partner with 70 different job training, job readiness and nonprofits. We served our first client on Aug. 1, 1997, and we have served almost 10,000 women, or about 500 women a year."
Clients range in age from 18 to 65, and many are entering the job market for the first time. Of the clients, 95% are single mothers, many of whom have been abused, and many come from area shelters. Suited for Success recently opened its doors to those coming out of programs of the criminal justice system.
When a client has a job interview, she can receive two interview suits. Once a job is secured, the client also receives two more additional outfits, plus accessories, shoes and jewelry.
Donations are still needed, especially for sizes 16 and above or 0 to 2. On Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and on the first Thursday of the month, the public can also shop at the store.
For more information on donating clothes, shopping or services, visit SuitedForSuccess.com or call 405.521.1089.
