July 28th Clothing Drive - Gender Affirming Closet Partnership - Oakland
Upcoming Clothing Drive:
Thursday, July 28th, 1-6pm
Oakstop (1714 Telegraph Ave, Oakland)
Interested in volunteering? Please email Marlena Cannon.
Most needed: Clothing for high school students of all genders and sizes. We are looking for clothing that helps makes young people feel comfortable in their bodies.
Next week, Dress for Success San Francisco is headed across the Bay Bridge for a clothing drive- but this time, it's not for our boutique.
We are helping to collect clothing for a new Gender Affirming Closet at Skyline High School in Oakland. They provide transgender, non-binary, and gender non-conforming students easy, free access to gender affirming clothing and accessories. The school's Gender Affirming Closet is an essential on-campus resource that offers a safe space free from judgment or discrimination and we are eager to support this effort!
What are "gender affirmative clothes"?
This term refers to apparel and accessory items that confirm an individual’s gender, regardless of the sex they were assigned at birth.
Why is it important?
What we wear is a component of how our gender expression is perceived by others. For trans individuals or people exploring their identity and physical appearance, accessing clothing that affirms their gender is not only liberating, it has implications beyond emotional and mental wellbeing.
For example, the National Center of Transgender Equality found that over 1 in 4 transgender people have lost a job due to bias and more than 75% have experienced some form of workplace discrimination. We recognize that supporting youth during such formative years can have an incredible impact for the future.
What is needed?
Clothing for high school students of all genders and sizes.
Please bring gently used or new clothing and accessories of all genders and sizes (especially "teenage" fashion styles). Please ensure that all clothing is clean and without rips, stains, or animal fur.
* Blouses * Sweatshirts (i.e. zip-ups, hoodies) * Tee-shirts (including graphic tees)
* Denim/Jeans * Pants (i.e. joggers, leggings, etc.) * Accessories
Where and when is the clothing drive?
Thursday, July 28th, 1-6pm
Oakstop (1714 Telegraph Ave, Oakland)
What if I cannot make it on Thursday, July 28th?
Unfortunately, we CANNOT accept donations for the closet beyond this special one-day event, but we expect to partner with Skyline again soon. Click here to learn more about our ongoing in-kind donation process at our office.
How do I sign up to donate?
Can I help with the Drive?
We need volunteers on both Thursday, July 28th during the Clothing Drive and Friday, July 29th to sort. All volunteering will be at Oakstop in Oakland. Please email Marlena Cannon if you are interested in helping out.
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We Help Women Go From Surviving to Thriving
Since 2005, Dress for Success San Francisco has provided resources and a continuing network of support to more than 10,000 women* as they move through their professional journeys.
*We use the term "women" in a gender expansive way, to include cis, trans, non-binary, gender non-conforming, gender queer, and any woman-identified person.