The time for donating professional clothing to students in need is almost over.
The donation event, which concludes on Thursday, Dec. 8, is a partnership between the Career Development Center, the Diversity Center, and the Volunteer and Civic Engagement Center. The drive is meant to help UIS students in need have access to professional clothing so they can better prepare themselves for jobs and interviews.
Students and faculty can donate at a number of locations, including the Diversity Center, the Volunteer and Civic Engagement Center, the Brookens’ library classroom entrance, the TRAC main entrance, as well as many other locations in the PAC. The full list of locations can be found at go.uis.edu/pcd.
“The Professional Clothing Drive is the beginning of a series of activities that assists UIS students in presenting themselves professionally at interviews, internships, jobs, and other professional activities,” says Career Development Center Director Kathrine Battee-Freeman. “This is an opportunity for UIS students and employees to clean out their closets in a way that will benefit others.”
Donated clothes will be given to students next semester during a free clothing closet event, hosted by the Career Development Center. The exact date of the event is still pending.
The drive is a part of an ongoing series of opportunities to better help students prepare for the workforce. These activities are expected to continue through next semester, concluding with the Career Connection Expo on Feb. 15.
Other student affair centers have considered doing a similar drive in the past. This event marks the first time such an idea was implemented.
The Professional Clothing Drive has already obtained a few bags of clothes. Battee-Freeman hopes that more people will donate before the drive’s end.
“We hope to receive many more donations before the Professional Clothing Drive concludes on Dec. 8,” she said.