Dress For Success launches mobile van with free professional clothing for women

Dress For Success Brookhaven, the 25-year-old nonprofit organization, is quite literally taking the show on the road.

For decades, women in need — referred by nonprofit entities such as domestic violence agencies, homeless shelters and veterans organizations — have come to the physical location of the establishment in Farmingville for career counseling and free professional attire. They browse a free selection of donated gently worn goods, including business suits, dresses, shoes, jewelry, handbags and more, to help them transition toward self-sufficiency. 

This summer, a big, gray 25-foot motor home (a Thor Axis), boldly emblazoned with the words “Empower Her Back To Work” is ready to roll. The Dress For Success Mobile Career Center and Boutique will visit some 200 referral agencies and make stops at job fairs and universities throughout Long Island.

You can’t always find or afford a babysitter and now having something that comes to where you are will make a world of difference.

— Star Arbouin, former Dress for Success client

While the brick-and-mortar emporium has serviced more than 6,000 clients since its inception, “We realized that it’s hard for some women to get to the boutique due to finances, transportation or lack of child care,” says Sharon Boyd, executive director for the organization, noting that 50% of their clients are single mothers. She adds that the mobile unit — a concept that she says was 10 years in the making, “Will provide immediate resources and further expand our reach.”

Completely refitted, the interior of the vehicle not only features well-stocked closets, drawers and shelves full of clothing and accessories, but includes a small section for resume assistance and career readiness resources for job placement. There are computers and printers on site, so a client can potentially walk out with both a new outfit and a refreshed resume.

According to a former client, her experience with Dress For Success Brookhaven was “life-changing.” So says Star Arbouin, 49, of Bellport, who following Hurricane Sandy lost her business and her home, “all in one shot,” she says.

The single mother of three ended up in a homeless shelter where a flash flood destroyed the small amount of clothing she had. “I was very discouraged and I felt like a failure. There’s a stigma that comes with being homeless but when I walked into Dress For Success they didn’t treat me like that. By the time I was done and looking in the mirror,” she explains, “there’s something to be said about when you look good, you feel your sense of confidence.”

Arbouin gets emotional when she recollects her journey. “They looked into the eyes of someone who was discouraged and it made me look again at myself. I was met with an embrace.”

Today, she works as a Civil Service employee and is also the global ambassador for Dress For Success worldwide. As for the new traveling unit, she says, “This is going to be very impactful for women who are going through hard times and need to get back on their feet. I didn’t always have a vehicle and it’s very difficult as a single mom. You can’t always find or afford a babysitter and now having something that comes to where you are will make a world of difference.”

Boyd credits local companies, including Capital One, Northwell Health, National Grid, The Tantillo Group, Pure Mammography and Schweiger Dermatology, that have helped to fund the mobile offshoot. And the Town of Brookhaven has played a key role in supporting the organization.

To learn more about Dress For Success Brookhaven, volunteer or make donations go to brookhaven.dressforsuccess.org or call 631-451-9197.