Women Giving Back Celebrates 10th Anniversary of Providing Clothing – and Confidence – to Women & Children in Crisis

Women Giving Back (WGB), a local nonprofit that runs a clothing donation center and store to provide women and children from local homeless shelters and transitional housing programs with clothing at no cost, marks a decade of service in 2017 in its quest to help vulnerable and at-risk women and children fully and confidently participate in work and school.

Since 2007, WGB has provided more than 500,000 items of gently-used clothing free of charge to approximately 50,000 women and children in crisis. Operating from a recently renovated and expanded store and donation center in Sterling, Va., WGB today is able to provide free clothing for work and school to more than 6,000 clients each year. Access to professional clothing for work and “trendy” clothing for school is key to building confidence and self-esteem for many vulnerable or at-risk women and families:

• “There were times when I had to choose between buying clothes and buying food, and, as a mom, of course I chose food. Shopping at WGB was like getting to go to the mall every month, and once I was able to start dressing professionally, I started acting professionally,” reports a WGB customer.
• For another mother, items from WGB provide “the confidence I needed to go forward – not just for me, but for my son who as a pre-teen was ashamed to let people know we were in the shelter.”

Building confidence with a “modern and trendy” store
More than 100 local nonprofit organizations such as the Alexandria Community Shelter, Artemis House, Loudoun Abused Women’s Shelter, Northern Virginia Family Services and Youth for Tomorrow send their qualifying clients and residents to the Women Giving Back store. Customers are registered by their case managers to shop at WGB’s well-organized store that is set up to foster a trendy, confidence-bolstering experience. “Our clients leave standing much straighter and prouder than when they walk in,” says WGB president Terri Stagi. (See store hours and location.)

Building partnerships in the community to “donate confidence” through clothing drives
Women Giving Back partners with individuals, families, local businesses and service groups who have “donated confidence” via clothing drives and volunteer days to organize donated clothes and assist shoppers. Local clothing drive and volunteer day partners have included George Mason University, Van Metre Companies, M & T Bank, and many others. (Learn more about volunteer opportunities.)

Celebrate 10 years with WGB at May event; Donate confidence throughout year via volunteering
Women Giving Back will be celebrating its 10th anniversary at its annual Cinco de Mayo fundraiser event held May 4th at its store. WGB encourages members of our local Northern Virginia community to “donate confidence” and share in celebrating its 10th year of service by attending or sponsoring the event, and/or donating 10 articles of women’s or children’s clothing, 10 bags of clothing, or volunteering 10 hours of time at its store or donation center.

About Women Giving Back
Women Giving Back’s mission is to support women and children in crisis, and build their confidence and self-esteem, by providing great quality clothing at no cost, assisted by caring and committed volunteers who offer personalized service and interaction.

Women Giving Back was founded in June 2007 by a small group of female building industry professionals associated with HomeAid Northern Virginia (HANV) and the Northern Virginia Building Industry Association (NVBIA). Pulling from its volunteer and supporter base of more than 5,000 people, Women Giving Back spun off and became its own independent 501(c)3 nonprofit in May of 2015.

WGB’s work improving the quality of life and instilling confidence and self-esteem for residents of shelters has been recognized by local and national awards, including Facets Community Partner Award (2015), 100 Women Strong Honoree (2015), Pandora Jewelry Hearts of Today Honoree (2014), Global Achievers Award (2014), HomeAid No. VA Presidents’ Circle Award (2013 and 2007), and Toyota Working Woman of the Year (2007).