I’m feeling rather virtuous this evening.

A couple of weeks ago, there was an article in the paper about a local charitable organization starting a career clothing bank.  They are collecting good suits and dresses and dressy blouses for women who are going for job interviews or who have already been hired, and who have nothing suitable to wear.

This particular charitable organization not only provides clothing, but maintains a food pantry and a kitchen which serves meals to those who might otherwise go hungry.  It is strictly local and has a stellar reputation — their expenses are kept to a minimum, and almost everything they take in goes to those who truly need the help.  I always feel good about whatever I donate to them.

I also wax enthusiastic when I hear about people helping themselves by getting jobs.  That’s hard enough to do at any time; but when times are as hard as they are now, I have to honor anyone who is going for an interview or who has actually managed to find work.

And so it was that I spent some time this past weekend going through my closets.  I pulled out all those nice clothes that I was hoping to “get back into one of these days.”  I think I knew I was kidding myself about ever being able to wear a size 14 again, but knowing what I paid for some of them left me scrambling for an excuse — any excuse – not to give them to someone who might not fully appreciate them.  I have no problem donating jeans and other casual clothes and even outgrown coats to others, but my really good suits?  That fine wool blazer?  And so they hung in my closet for 3 or 4 or 5 or 10 years, while some single mother may have been passed over for a job because she didn’t look her best at a job interview.

This evening there’s a bit more room in my closets.  It feels pretty good.

Posted by Sharon under Observations | No Comments »