Ribbon Cutting Ceremony - New Women’s Clothes Cottage:
Career Clothing for Women in Need
On Wednesday, July 26, at 2:00 p.m., the Chesterfield Colonial Height Alliance for Social Ministry (CCHASM), along with the Chester United Methodist Church and countless supporters, will celebrate the long awaited move of our Women’s Career Clothes Cottage with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and tours of the new location.
The ceremony will take place at the new Career Clothes Cottage which is located at 12117 Percival Street, Chester, VA 23831. One of 4 major programs offered by CCHASM, the Career Clothing Cottage provides interview and work attire for women re-entering the workforce following considerable hardship.
Hoping to inspire confidence and professionalism, CCHASM has partnered with the Women’s Detention Center and the Department of Social Service Job Corps Program to provide professional interview attire at no cost to the graduates of these programs. Individual community residents in need also have access to the Women’s Career Clothes Cottage.
“Practically, this program fosters growth and progress by allowing access to the benefits of interviewing for professional jobs. Personally, the confidence that shines through the women’s faces when leaving the Clothes Cottage cannot be measured,” says Christa Donohue, CCHASM CEO.
This move was facilitated by a flood at the former location in January. When Chester United Methodist Church learned that CCHASM was seeking a new location, they quickly offered to help with a generous donation of space.
“This partnership is an extension of our long standing membership in CCHASM. When faith-based organizations come together to meet community needs, transformation happens in the lives of those who need it most,” says Sylvia Meadows, Senior Pastor at Chester United Methodist Church.
All clothing and accessories are donated by the local community. CCHASM is accepting donations of gently used career clothing, shoes, handbags, jewelry, and accessories. In 2016, the Women’s Clothes Cottage had a direct impact on 179 women in the CCHASM service area.
About CCHASM:
In 1988, CCHASM (www.cchasm.org) was formed through a collaborative effort between the communities of Chesterfield – Colonial Heights and the Department of Social Services. The vision at that time was to create an organization which would be able to work with community members as well as with Social Service agencies to acquire and employ multiple resources and through this synergy increase the ability to assist more area residents as a unified group than any member could do as an individual unit. Today, CCHASM stills functions under the same principle: “We are stronger together than we are apart.”
Contact:
Christa Donohue christa@cchasm.org 804-796-3715
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