Read below for more details on the updates from our monthly volunteer newsletter!
February 2024
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Happy February! We’ve started a new year, with new goals and adventures, and a LOT to be proud of! In 2023 DFSTC benefitted from
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…And speaking of NEW, we have officially rolled out recurring volunteer opportunities on the first Saturday of each month (pending holidays). We’ve long been asked for more sessions outside of the traditional work day - so let’s fill up these sessions! Join us at the WearhouseTM the first Saturday of each month, whether it’s a Donation Day, a Sale Event, or general WearhouseTM work time.
Avivo is an excellent community partner, offering services related to recovery, housing, and employment, among others. Currently Avivo is looking for mock interviewers, and we know our DFSTC volunteer crew is GREAT at that!
Avivo interviews take place VIRTUALLY, on Tuesday, February 27th from 10am until noon. They are looking for 8-10 volunteers, if interested please directly contact Tara Munroe at Avivo. [email protected]g
Avivo interviews take place VIRTUALLY, on Tuesday, February 27th from 10am until noon. They are looking for 8-10 volunteers, if interested please directly contact Tara Munroe at Avivo. [email protected]g
Does your workplace offer comp time for volunteering?
Want to bring your employee resource or interest group in to support Dress for Success together?
We love corporate groups!
Contact our VP of Strategic Partnerships, Megan Meuli, and we’ll be overjoyed to have you join us and do some good for a few hours.
Want to bring your employee resource or interest group in to support Dress for Success together?
We love corporate groups!
Contact our VP of Strategic Partnerships, Megan Meuli, and we’ll be overjoyed to have you join us and do some good for a few hours.
November 2023
November is all about giving thanks, and we couldn’t be more appreciative of all our amazing volunteers!
This past year we have settled in to our new WearhouseTM space in St Louis Park, hosted four mega donation days, entertained corporate groups from all across the state, and visited new areas monthly with our Success Express. We could not have done any of this without the hundreds of kind hearted individuals who have offered their time and talents to this program.
Haven’t gotten involved yet, or haven’t been a volunteer since “the old days” pre covid? Re-engage with an online volunteer orientation and gain access to current opportunities within Dress for Success Twin Cities. We’d love to see you again!
This past year we have settled in to our new WearhouseTM space in St Louis Park, hosted four mega donation days, entertained corporate groups from all across the state, and visited new areas monthly with our Success Express. We could not have done any of this without the hundreds of kind hearted individuals who have offered their time and talents to this program.
Haven’t gotten involved yet, or haven’t been a volunteer since “the old days” pre covid? Re-engage with an online volunteer orientation and gain access to current opportunities within Dress for Success Twin Cities. We’d love to see you again!
If you HAVE attended a volunteer orientation in the past year, but lost access to the sign up page for volunteer shifts, reach out to Volunteer Coordinator Heather to restore your ability to sign up. If you know when you attended orientation, that will help!
Biggest Need: It’s Almost Donation Day!
Saturday, December 2nd is our next “all hands on deck” volunteer need: Donation Day! This is empirically our largest donation event of the year, and we need lots of volunteers to make it happen! Do you have a couple hours to spend greeting donors, unloading cars, and passing items down our fire brigade into the WearhouseTM? We’d love to have you! We are especially in need of afternoon help. This opportunity is open to all genders, and you need not have attended orientation – just bring your cheerful attitude and your muscles.
Saturday, December 2nd is our next “all hands on deck” volunteer need: Donation Day! This is empirically our largest donation event of the year, and we need lots of volunteers to make it happen! Do you have a couple hours to spend greeting donors, unloading cars, and passing items down our fire brigade into the WearhouseTM? We’d love to have you! We are especially in need of afternoon help. This opportunity is open to all genders, and you need not have attended orientation – just bring your cheerful attitude and your muscles.
Not able to volunteer, but looking for info on how to donate?
As we closed out Breast Cancer Awareness Month, volunteer Eva Stukenberg with Bloom Financial gathered her friends and clients to help “support” and “uplift” our women in a very impactful way – they donated brand new bras, underwear, and socks in addition to working in our WearhouseTM! New undergarments are dignity building, and being able to include these items in our Confidence Kits really helps ensure women in our programs can show up as their best selves to whatever employment stage they are navigating. Thank you Eva & all your guests for this huge gift!
Want to help support our ongoing need for new bras, underwear, and socks?
Want to help support our ongoing need for new bras, underwear, and socks?
October 2023
Become a Volunteer
WOW! Our WearhouseTM Volunteers continue to impress as we turn out more and more Confidence Kits each month! So far this in the first three quarters of this year we’ve delivered over 380 clothing kits! That’s up significantly from last year, and means we are relying on your volunteer efforts more than ever! Here’s how you can help us fill these needs, and more:
Step one: attend a volunteer orientation. Orientation is held monthly, and alternates between a daytime and evening zoom meeting just an hour long – you can join from anywhere! Need to attend orientation? Register HERE.
Once you’ve attended a volunteer orientation, you’ll be granted access to our volunteer portal, a website where you can view and sign up for open volunteer needs at any time!
Already attended, but lost track of the volunteer portal info? Message Heather, our Volunteer Coordinator, to ask for the login – include your first and last name and what month/year you think you did orientation, we’ll get you connected once again.
Step one: attend a volunteer orientation. Orientation is held monthly, and alternates between a daytime and evening zoom meeting just an hour long – you can join from anywhere! Need to attend orientation? Register HERE.
Once you’ve attended a volunteer orientation, you’ll be granted access to our volunteer portal, a website where you can view and sign up for open volunteer needs at any time!
Already attended, but lost track of the volunteer portal info? Message Heather, our Volunteer Coordinator, to ask for the login – include your first and last name and what month/year you think you did orientation, we’ll get you connected once again.
WearhouseTM volunteers are needed on an ongoing basis who are open to engaging in a multitude of tasks. On any given day, WearhouseTM volunteers may sort, weigh, hang and organize clothing and accessories. We might clean, match up shoes, de tangle jewelry, stock the Success Express, assemble & pack kits, and anything else that our clients may need! You can volunteer sporadically as your schedule allows, or make it a recurring commitment and come every week!
Confidence Coaches - Dress for Success Twin Cities has a Confidence Coaching program for clients who would like to meet with Volunteer Coaches one-on-one. Coaches offer the following services: encouragement, support and/or career development assistance with job search, interviews, resumes and cover letters, LinkedIn profiles, salary negotiation, and on-boarding. If you are interested in Confidence Coaching, you must first attend a volunteer orientation. You will then meet with one of our Coach Trainers to learn more about this specific volunteer opportunity and for us to get to know you and your experience better. We have the greatest need for coaches of color, coaches who speak two or more languages, and those with successful entrepreneurship backgrounds.
Confidence Coaches - Dress for Success Twin Cities has a Confidence Coaching program for clients who would like to meet with Volunteer Coaches one-on-one. Coaches offer the following services: encouragement, support and/or career development assistance with job search, interviews, resumes and cover letters, LinkedIn profiles, salary negotiation, and on-boarding. If you are interested in Confidence Coaching, you must first attend a volunteer orientation. You will then meet with one of our Coach Trainers to learn more about this specific volunteer opportunity and for us to get to know you and your experience better. We have the greatest need for coaches of color, coaches who speak two or more languages, and those with successful entrepreneurship backgrounds.
Pop Up Sale
We have an exciting new opportunity to fundraise this fall with the help of Southdale Center. Dress for Success Twin Cities will be hosting a pop up sale of new items sponsored by local retailers. We need help setting up our temporary space, and you can jump in even if you haven’t made it to orientation yet! Volunteer roles include:
loading in and organizing merchandise,
running the sale,
and tearing it all down at the end.
The sale takes place October 21st & 22nd, with set up the prior Thursday and Friday. Volunteers need to be able to stand throughout the shift, bend/lift/carry, and utilize mobile checkout technology.
Shoppers – we will need you too! Watch your email for more details, you won’t want to miss it!
Donation Day
Our next quarterly donation intake at our St Louis Park facility will be Saturday, December 2nd. Donations are only accepted on these designated days, and by appointment. Want to donate? Sign up for a drop off here.
Ready to jump in and help unload items? Please join us! Sign up for a fast fun shift here.
We have an exciting new opportunity to fundraise this fall with the help of Southdale Center. Dress for Success Twin Cities will be hosting a pop up sale of new items sponsored by local retailers. We need help setting up our temporary space, and you can jump in even if you haven’t made it to orientation yet! Volunteer roles include:
loading in and organizing merchandise,
running the sale,
and tearing it all down at the end.
The sale takes place October 21st & 22nd, with set up the prior Thursday and Friday. Volunteers need to be able to stand throughout the shift, bend/lift/carry, and utilize mobile checkout technology.
Shoppers – we will need you too! Watch your email for more details, you won’t want to miss it!
Donation Day
Our next quarterly donation intake at our St Louis Park facility will be Saturday, December 2nd. Donations are only accepted on these designated days, and by appointment. Want to donate? Sign up for a drop off here.
Ready to jump in and help unload items? Please join us! Sign up for a fast fun shift here.
September 2023
We're Looking for Volunteer Drivers!
We are looking to build our roster of possible volunteer drivers as the Success Express gets busier! If you are comfortable/experienced driving larger vehicles, and could occasionally help us out, let’s connect!
The Success Express is a 38’ renovated RV we take to locations all across the metro. Events are usually during the weekday, but could be split into an early drop off and later pick up to accommodate a driver’s work schedule (and we can uber or assist you between). No additional endorsements are needed beyond a standard driver’s license and clean history.
Meeting clients where they are at, in the communities and institutions they are comfortable with, has a HUGE impact on our reach. With your help, our mobile confidence center can reduce barriers like transportation, childcare, language differences, and more to ensure women are able to access our services.
If you would be interested in this opportunity (dates are pretty random) reach out to volunteer coordinator Heather:
The Success Express is a 38’ renovated RV we take to locations all across the metro. Events are usually during the weekday, but could be split into an early drop off and later pick up to accommodate a driver’s work schedule (and we can uber or assist you between). No additional endorsements are needed beyond a standard driver’s license and clean history.
Meeting clients where they are at, in the communities and institutions they are comfortable with, has a HUGE impact on our reach. With your help, our mobile confidence center can reduce barriers like transportation, childcare, language differences, and more to ensure women are able to access our services.
If you would be interested in this opportunity (dates are pretty random) reach out to volunteer coordinator Heather:
Critical Need for Colder Weather
We have a critical need this fall for brand new socks, underwear, and bras in all sizes. Our stocks are depleted, and these items are HIGHLY prized in our Confidence Kits – can you help? Check out our Amazon Wish List and send them right to us, right NOW!
We will take all brands and styles, but socks, underwear, and bras must be new with tags.
We will take all brands and styles, but socks, underwear, and bras must be new with tags.
Upcoming: Donation Day December 2nd
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We accept donations from the public on a quarterly basis when we have staff and volunteers assembled to handle the amazing abundance of professional clothing and accessories our donors deliver. On August 19th we had an absolutely AMAZING crew of workers greeting and unloading cars faster than ever before! We can’t say enough GREAT things about this group, we are so appreciative. Want to be part of it? Our next Donation Day is Saturday December 2nd, and we need even MORE volunteers to ensure a smooth winter collection – and while these photos show the amazing women who answered our call last month, ANYONE 18+ can volunteer for donation day – even if you haven’t attended orientation! So grab a friend and register:
Thank You, Volunteers!
Thank you to our corporate group volunteers!
Recently Versique visited our WearhouseTM to help wrangle hangers and assemble Confidence Kits, and we are so appreciative!
Do you work for an organization providing employees paid time to volunteer?
We’d love to put you and your team to work empowering women! Contact us for more details.
Recently Versique visited our WearhouseTM to help wrangle hangers and assemble Confidence Kits, and we are so appreciative!
Do you work for an organization providing employees paid time to volunteer?
We’d love to put you and your team to work empowering women! Contact us for more details.
Ready to get more involved?
Individual volunteering with Dress for Success starts with attending a volunteer orientation, a one hour zoom meeting you can join from anywhere. To register for orientation and complete a volunteer application, check out our website here.
Volunteer orientation is currently held monthly, and alternates between a day and evening timeslot.
Individual volunteering with Dress for Success starts with attending a volunteer orientation, a one hour zoom meeting you can join from anywhere. To register for orientation and complete a volunteer application, check out our website here.
Volunteer orientation is currently held monthly, and alternates between a day and evening timeslot.
June 2023
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It’s our first summer in our St Louis Park Wearhouse™, and boy is it beautiful! Our new lights are shining, there is AIR CONDITIONING, and we are receiving a steady crew of hard working volunteers…and thank goodness, because confidence kit requests continue to soar!
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NEW Volunteer Opportunities
What's New
We’ve recently launched some new volunteer opportunities on the portal:
- Watch for “RV Prep” shifts that take place on a variable schedule the day before scheduled events where we need the Success Express stocked, organized, and looking her best. These shifts still take place at our Oxford Street location, mid day during the week, and we could really use your help!
- Wearhouse™ Evenings & Weekends – while the bulk of our work continues to happen during the week, the times we are able to add evening and weekend hours have been separately listed on the portal for your convenience. It won’t be a tidal wave – but when we have the availability, those shifts will trickle in here.
- Confidence Coaching – Dress for Success Twin Cities has a Confidence Coaching program for clients who would like to meet with Volunteer Coaches one-on-one. Coaches offer the following services: encouragement, support and/or career development assistance with job search, interviews, resumes and cover letters, LinkedIn profiles, salary negotiation, and on-boarding. If you are interested in Confidence Coaching, you will first meet with one of our Coach Trainers to learn more about this volunteer opportunity and for us to get to know you and your experience better. Volume/demand varies based on client need.
Biggest Needs
Searching for some special talents
Photographers/Makeup Artists:
We have a great event coming up July 28th that needs a few more volunteer photographers and makeup artists to help clients prep and take headshots. Location is St Louis Park, approximate need from 11-2. If you have expertise in this area, and are willing to use your skills and equipment to empower women, we would love to connect!
We have a great event coming up July 28th that needs a few more volunteer photographers and makeup artists to help clients prep and take headshots. Location is St Louis Park, approximate need from 11-2. If you have expertise in this area, and are willing to use your skills and equipment to empower women, we would love to connect!
RV Drivers:
Are you confident and experienced driving larger vehicles? Available for sporadic, mostly daytime events? We are hoping to add a few more willing volunteers to our list of Success Express drivers as the program continues to grow! A standard license and clean driving history are required.
Are you confident and experienced driving larger vehicles? Available for sporadic, mostly daytime events? We are hoping to add a few more willing volunteers to our list of Success Express drivers as the program continues to grow! A standard license and clean driving history are required.
Thursday Wearhouse™ shifts:
Our Tuesdays are hopping, but we continue to have lots of unfilled opportunities on Thursdays. These volunteers help hang, organize, and sort stock, assemble Confidence Kits, and complete any other tasks needed to keep our Wearhouse™ in tip top shape.
Our Tuesdays are hopping, but we continue to have lots of unfilled opportunities on Thursdays. These volunteers help hang, organize, and sort stock, assemble Confidence Kits, and complete any other tasks needed to keep our Wearhouse™ in tip top shape.
Upcoming events
Events on Deck
We’re always planning for our next big donation day, save the date now!
- Saturday, August 19th is our all hands on deck quarterly intake day, and we would love to have you (and your roommate, spouse, book club, softball team) volunteer to help! It’s always a good time and the day moves quickly. Register at the link below:
- Clothing sale – we anticipate a smaller clothing sale in August, but always appreciate assistance. Click the link below to volunteer for the August 5th sale:
- Volunteer Orientation – If you haven’t attended volunteer orientation, or haven’t volunteered with us since Covid, we’d love you to sign up again and hear about all the exciting new programs and opportunities at Dress for Success Twin Cities! Orientations are held as 1 hour zoom sessions, and alternate monthly between an evening and mid day offering. Click below to sign up!