We're located at:

Clothing wanted: We rely on your donations of gently worn women's suits, skirts, blouses, dresses, slacks, blazers dress shoes, overcoats, and accessories. We also need new stockings, and all undergarments must be new. For men we need suits, slacks, suit jackets, dress shirts, dress shoes, dress socks, overcoats, and accessories. We especially need men's clothing, including dress shoes in good condition and ties, and women's sizes 14 and up. If you'd like to hold a clothing drive at your workplace, club, neighborhood, or place of worship, Solutions at Work will provide posters and flyers to promote the event, and train volunteers to collect the clothing and provide tax receipts to donors. Contact Sonya Darcy for more information, at 617-576-0039. Find out how you can donate new and used clothing for this program.

Thanks to SolutionsWear, Diana Paliotto is ready for her job interviews!

Looking Great and Feeling Great -- SolutionsWear Helps Job Seekers Prepare

Do you remember back-to-school time, and that pristine notebook with all the perfect blank pages, ready to be filled? That set of new pens and perfectly sharp pencils and maybe even their own special carrying case complete with erasers and a ruler? They were the final piece that completed your preparations for the big day you'd walk into the school building.

SolutionsWear is to professional clothing for men and women who are moving out of homelessness or out of prison and back into the job and housing markets what the back-to-school notebook, pens, and pencils are to school children each fall. Most people who are making the transition out of homelessness do not have the wardrobe to match the new direction their lives are about to take. SolutionsWear fills that gap with quality professional clothing. SolutionsWear provides three outfits -- complete with shoes, belts and accessories -- for men and women who are actively job hunting or house hunting. Once they're employed, clients work with staff to complete the outfit or adjust the style for the specific job they're in, bridging the time until their first paycheck.

According to Sonya Darcy, manager of both SolutionsWear and our Children's Clothing Exchange, no one else is doing things in this customized, customer-oriented way. "Our goal is to make things really easy to use. We want people who are using SolutionsWear to look great and to feel great about themselves," says Darcy.

SolutionsWear is designed to be part of a wider set of training and support services provided by local agencies. By working with referring agencies like job training programs, housing offices, prison ministries, and probation officers, SolutionsWear helps people who are truly ready to make the step to independent living and employment. They have the training and support of the referring program, and the clothing becomes that crucial piece that completes the puzzle for them. As Sonya Darcy points out, "The first impression is sometimes the only impression you get to make."

The Proof is in the Putting On

Lori, a recent SolutionsWear client who was referred to SolutionsWear by a family shelter, was moved to write a letter. She writes: "I was very anxious about starting work, because I felt like I would not fit in." SolutionsWear super-volunteer Adonna helped her select her clothing. "I had a great experience and I received enough clothes to mix and match until I get on my feet. I have a nice little wardrobe now."

Another client was referred by a Cambridge food pantry. His sons were graduating from high school, but he did not have anything to wear to the celebration. We found out that he was also in a job training program and getting ready to begin interviewing. "He came in for one thing, and we were able to help him for two things. That felt great," reports Sonya Darcy.

Starting Out Small; Big Plans for the Future

SolutionsWear was formally launched on May 1, 2005, in a large room at the recently renovated and much enlarged Children's Clothing Exchange at 391 Evereteze Way in Cambridge. SolutionsWear is off and running in this beautiful space, thanks to the very generous donations by Helen Hunt Bouscaren, who started it off with 50 suits and bought the clothing racks. Staff and volunteer Adonna have been busy sorting and organizing the donated clothing.

A reliable stream of quality clothing to match the demand needs to be established. Cibeline's, a clothing boutique located in Davis Square, Somerville, recently hosted a "Great Clothing Swap," where customers could swap clothing. The brainchild of boutique owner and designer Sabriano Cibeline, the swap was the second in their Thursday Night Fashion Series, which benefits local organizations. Leftover garments and $1 for every $5 in sales that night were donated to SolutionsWear.

Harvard Business School students also held a clothing drive recently, netting a whopping 15 large bags of clothes for SolutionsWear. At the same time, the Harbus Foundation, which is directed by Harvard Business School students, made a $10,000 for the Children's Clothing Exchange.

We rely on your donations of gently worn women's suits, skirts, blouses, dress shoes, overcoats, and accessories. We also need new stockings. For men we need suits, slacks, dress shirts, dress shoes, overcoats, and accessories.

If you'd like to hold a clothing drive at your workplace, club, neighborhood, or place of worship, Solutions at Work will provide posters and flyers to promote the event, and train volunteers to collect the clothing and provide tax receipts to donors. Contact Sonya Darcy for more information, at 617-576-0039.

 Back to Top