Boonton, NJ, November 10, 2009….
Bridget Connor, owner of Lotus Boutique in Boonton, NJ, hosted a suit donation drive on Thursday, October 29 and was shocked at how much clothing she raised for the Dress for Success charity.
With the help of Felicia Loveys and the Nite Owls, Connor’s family-run shop delivered 1,000 outfits to disenfranchised New Jersey women - the highest number of outfits out of any drive that Morris County’s Dress for Success has seen so far this year. Lotus Boutique’s landlord also contributed the vacant storefront next door to house the donated goods. “Without the donated use of the vacant store we wouldn’t have had room for everything,” said Connor.
“In 2009, we had 26 organizations host Suit Drives for Morris County. Most of these were corporate organizations (Phizer, Verizon, Novartis, etc.) The donations from Lotus Boutique were higher in both number and quality than any drive we have hosted this year,” said Dress for Success Suit Drive Coordinator Jacque Bruno. “I have no doubt that at least 15 women were wearing [Lotus Boutique’s] donations this past week at their jobs,” continued Bruno. “You can rest assured that the clothes that were in your closets are now being worn to the interviews and jobs as women strive to provide for themselves and their families.”
“We are proud to support an organization that helps so many women with their goal to reach financial independence for themselves and their families. We were overwhelmed by the amount of donations we received!” said Heide Rodgers, spokesperson for the Nite Owls.
Five wagon loads full of slacks, shirts, jackets and blazers were delivered to the Morris County Dress for Success affiliate. Hundreds of shoppers crammed the family-run shop, scooping up Weston Wear, Language Los Angeles tops, and David Kahn Jeans at 15% off as a thank you for donating. “I’d like to say thank you to the community for all they contributed, it was a wonderful and heartwarming experience” said Connor.
Since Dress for Success was founded in New York City in 1997, the non-for-profit organization has served over 450,000 women around the world. Dress for Success designs services to help their clients find and keep jobs - and each client receives one suit for an interview and a second suit if and when she finds work.
From left to right: Standing along side the generous amount of donations is Kathy Dydensborg and Heide Rodgers from the Nite Owls, Jacque Bruno our Dress For Success Suit Drive Coordinator, Bridget Connor owner of Lotus Boutique, and Felicia Loveys Suit Drive organizer and owner of FiFiFit.
