Ready for Success

Ready for Success (RFS) provides low-income women with new or gently-used professional clothing, accessories, and personal care items suitable for job interviews and the workplace. Ready for Success began in 1997 as an outreach project of Trinity Episcopal Church. The rapidly growing demand for RFS services and outpouring of volunteer and in-kind support of the program quickly brought it under the wings of Episcopal Community Services. In 2001, Ready for Success officially became a program of ECS and currently serves more than 1,300 low-income women annually.

Women that utilize RFS services are:

• Referred by an ECS partner agency, congregation or other social service entity
• Working or seeking employment
• Low-income
• Often experiencing a life transition or personal set-back, such as incarceration, rehabilitation from chemical dependency, etc.
• Eligible to utilize RFS services three times during the year in order to build a seasonally-appropriate wardrobe

Ready for Success is unique from other clothing programs in many ways. At RFS, program participants:

• Have an Individual Appointment.
• Are paired with a volunteer Personal Shopper.
• Return for subsequent visits to build a seasonal wardrobe.
• “Shop” in a boutique-style environment.
• Receive accessories and personal care items in addition to the clothing.

Donating to Ready for Success

Donations are:

• New and “gently used” professional and business casual clothing.
• Tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.
• Clean and without need for repair.
• Shoes and outerwear in good condition.
• Accessories such as scarves, jewelry, watches, purses, and belts.
• New undergarments or hosiery and personal care items.
• We accept all sizes, but are especially in need of plus-sized clothing.
• In season and current with today’s workplace style.
• Accepted on Monday’s by appointment.
• Scheduled in advance by phone, 612.874.8823, or via e-mail at rfs@ecsmn.org
• Accepted at one of four locations — determined at the time the donation appointment is made, — Minneapolis, St. Paul, Stillwater and Excelsior, MN.

If you would like to make a financial donation so that Ready for Success can purchase items not frequently donated, please contact us at 612-874-8823.

Volunteering for Ready for Success

To volunteer for Ready for Success, please contact Jennifer Paffel at jpaffel@ecsmn.org.

Individual Opportunities:

• Personal Shoppers: Volunteers work one-on-one with Ready for Success clients, helping them select professional attire and providing encouragement as they prepare for job interviews and advancement opportunities. Personal Shoppers report a sense of fulfillment and characterize their Personal Shopping experiences with Ready for Success as “rewarding,” “meaningful,” and “an important way to boost women’s confidence in securing the job they so desperately need.”
• Drive Organizers: Volunteers work with their congregations, service groups, women friends, family members, and co-workers to collect personal care items (toiletries), accessories, business suits, shoes, handbags and brief cases, and other workplace essentials that will benefit the clients of Ready for Success.

Group Opportunities:

• Sorting: Gathering together a group to participate in a morning or afternoon of sorting business attire from more casual donations not geared toward Ready for Success’ mission and goals.
• Collection Drives: Volunteering with one’s peers from service groups, workplaces, and other organizations to collect items — most needed — and most often not donated in large quantities to best serve the women utilizing the services of Ready for Success.