DONATE CLOTHING

Thank you for your support of Dress for Success San Jose! In order to run our Career Wardrobe Program, we rely heavily on our clothing donors. However, due to limited space in our boutique, we have specific requirements for donations, and only accept donations during certain times. Scroll below to sign up for an upcoming Donation Drive and to learn more about our donation guidelines.

 

What would you wear to a job interview?

That is exactly the type of clothing we are looking for to distribute to our clients. Your gently used professional apparel could furnish another woman with the confidence to enter or return to the workplace, make a great first impression and land a job that could change her life.

Additionally, many of our clients go directly to an interview, so please ensure that all items donated are laundered/clean, not more than 5 years old, and suitable for wearing to job interviews and for work. Looking for donation inspiration? Scroll to the bottom of the page for some actual client photos wearing the outfits they took from our boutique!

 

Guidelines for Donating Clothing

We offer professional clothing to women who are interviewing or starting new jobs. When putting together donations, consider what you might wear to an interview - that’s exactly what we’re looking for! We are so appreciative for the generosity of our donors, but because we have limited space in our boutique, we ask all donors review and adhere to the following guidelines:

  1. We only accept donations during our donation drives and an appointment is required. A sign up link will be posted below approximately 2 weeks before the next donation drive date. Please only sign up for one time slot to allow others to donate as well.

  2. We do not accept walk-in appointments for dropping off donations.

  3. Due to space limitations, please bring no more than two bags of items. Items must be clean and either on hangers, in a small box weighing under 30 pounds, or in bags. No trash bags. If you have any questions about the clothing limit please email clothingdonations@sjdress.org

  4. Clothing should be current and contemporary no more than 5 years old or classic pieces.

Items we DO accept:

  • Interview and work appropriate suits

  • Interview and work appropriate separates (blouses, pants, blazers, dresses, etc.)

  • Interview and work appropriate shoes (good condition, gently worn)

  • Interview and work appropriate handbags, briefcases and portfolios

  • Jewelry, including costume jewelry

  • Scarves

  • Unopened toiletries and makeup (must be in original packaging)

  • High end, designer or luxury goods for our fundraising event in the fall

Items that we DO NOT accept:

  • Menswear -Please consider donating to Fit to be Hired, a nonprofit that provides professional men’s clothing to refugees.

  • Casual clothing (t-shirts, jeans, sweatshirts/hoodies, etc.)

  • Athletic or Leisure wear (yoga pants, tank tops, etc.)

  • Sneakers, sandals or casual shoes

  • Lingerie

  • Evening-wear

Upcoming Donation Drive Information

Next Drive: An appointment is required to donate. Our next drive is Friday 1/24 from 10:30AM- 3:30PM. A sign up link is here, please see additional information below.

Please do not sign up for more than one time slot. When sign ups are live, if donation drive slots have already been filled, the following drive will be Feb 14, 2025, and the link will be available on 2/3/25. We also recommend checking back on the current month event signup as people often cancel within a few days/ day of the event.

Questions? Please email clothingdonations@sjdress.org

Thank you!