OFM_Dept_Impact_Well_Suited_1019_DEPT 9 / 23 / 19 10 : 14 AM Page 2 Because unemployment is low , Dress for Success Orlando has been able to start reaching out to other segments of Orlando’s population who need career services , including high school seniors who are preparing to go to college or enter the working world , college students entering the workforce and , through a partnership with AARP , people who have retired from their first career and are looking to do something else . When doing speaking engagements around town , Hunt says it’s not uncommon for women to approach her with stories of how they were helped by Dress for Success . “ They’ll whisper it in my ear , ” Hunt says . “ They don’t want their co - workers to know ; they don’t want the rest of the people around to know ; but they want me to know that our organization has touched and impacted them in a great way . ” Because unemployment can be stigmatizing , many people , including women who have benefited from Dress for Success ’ services , don’t want others to know about their time of need . “ I think we’re in a society , unfortunately , that there’s shame when you have to ask for help , ” Hunt says . “ We are a ‘ pull yourself up by your bootstraps ’ society , which is great , but sometimes we need help pulling those bootstraps up . “ The traditional idea of someone in need is someone who is homeless [ and ] actually sleeping on the street . We help those individuals as well , but there are a mass of people that we just don’t know who are desperately in need , who are working alongside us every day . ” HOW TO HELP After her suiting appointment , Abernathy stayed in touch with Dress for Success . She attended events , spoke in front of others about her experience and met other women through the group’s programming . Today , she is a chaplain for a local hospital system and she has her own professional leadership coaching ndo business named Come Walk Together . Having found Orla camaraderie among volunteers and attendees of Dress ter for Success ’ programs , she strongly encourages Greaothers to get involved . ess “ You can already be a professional yourself , ” she ucc says , “ but it just polishes and strengthens your Sfocus . ” for Currently , the group is coming off its donation ess season , so suits and other clothing items are not a Dr f critical need . Instead , the organization is looking ofor esy volunteers to help with its programming , including ourt men or women who are interested in being mentors , c os facilitating seminars , doing inventory management hot or planning events . P ORLANDOFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM october 2019 ORLANDO FAMILY 13