College has need for career clothes

A beautiful gown for a high school prom makes for a great, one-time memory.

But some sharp threads for a job interview can pay dividends many times over.

Unfortunately, not every Clark College student has access to professional-looking clothing. Which is why the school’s Career Clothing Closet has quickly grown popular in just six years.

On April 12 to 27, Clark will again accept donated “gently used” clothes suitable for job interviews, scholarship interviews and other important settings.

Donors should consider what they would feel comfortable wearing for such an interview.

Items for men or women may include shirts, pants, dresses, shoes, jewelry and other accessories. Dress socks and new hose also are useful.

Jody Shulnak, Service-Learning & Volunteer program manager for Clark, asks that items be in “excellent condition” and freshly cleaned (or dry-cleaned) and ironed.

If the size of the garment is not clear, it should be labeled by the donor: A small slip of paper may be attached with a safety pin.

Spare clothes hangers, in particular those with clips for slacks or skirts, are especially welcome.

Hundreds dressed

The Career Clothing Closet has helped nearly 700 students dress for success in the past two years alone.

This year, the Closet will open its doors to students on April 29-30, allowing one free outfit per person.

“Our college community is pretty aware of this,” Shulnak said. “No student has been turned away empty-handed, unless they didn’t find something that fit, really,” she said.

Donations will be accepted weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Career and Employment Services office, Room 108 of Gaiser Hall on the main Clark College campus.

Clark is at 1933 Fort Vancouver Way in Vancouver. Driving directions and parking maps are available at http://www.clark.edu/maps.

Tax receipts will be available for donors. To donate clothes or for more information, call 360-992-2902 or send an e-mail to service_learning@clark.edu.