Suit Sorting Day Part 2

On Friday, March 15, 2024, ACTION Ohio facilitated a second Suits Sorting Day at Buckeye Ranch. We were deeply grateful to have Velda Hofacker, a long-time supporter of this effort, and her friends assist. 

Link to more photos.

Second Suits for Success pickup in Chillicothe

On Friday, March 8, 2024, with help from the wonderful Kristy Mullins and Tonya Gephard, Lisa was able to pick up the remaining men's professional clothing items from the Veteran Housing Program in Chillicothe. They had received a large donation of brand new suits from Men’s Wearhouse, and weren’t able to distribute the smaller sizes so they donated them to us for foster youth.

ACTION Ohio has ordered 10 wheeled clothing racks and will do another Suit Sorting this month. News to come in the future regarding young women’s clothing drive. All items will be freely available for current and former Ohio foster youth during the statewide Leadership and Life Skills Summit in June. 

2024 February Suit Sorting Day

On Friday, Feb. 23, 2024, ACTION Ohio facilitated a Suits Sorting Day at Buckeye Ranch. We were deeply grateful to have Velda Hofacker, a long-time supporter of this effort, and her friend assist. 

Junior League Panel Presentation

On Wednesday, February 7, 2024, the Junior League of Columbus hosted a community panel. 

Panelists included:

• Moderator JoVonna Moxley of JLC Columbus
• Lisa Dickson, ACTION Ohio
• Kim Eckhart, Children's Defense Fund ~ Ohio
• Katrina de los Santos, CSCC Scholar Network

Here's a link to the ACTION Ohio handout that Lisa shared. 

Suits for Success pickup in Chillicothe

Went to Chillicothe to pick up suits today...

The first four photos are what I was able to fit in my car:

The last three photos are what is still there for us to get later:

Suits for Success in 2024 -- another generous clothing donation

ACTION Ohio was contacted by Kristy Mullins, Program Support Assistant for the Veteran Housing Program in Chillicothe.  They had received a large donation of new suits from Men’s Wearhouse, and weren’t able to distribute the smaller sizes. They want to donate them to us for foster youth.

Similar to the previous donation we received from Polaris Fashion Place, these suits will be distributed to foster youth at the 2024 Leadership and Life Skills Summit for Ohio foster youth, aged 14-24.

Suits for Success in 2024

Link to more photos. 

Throughout the entire state of Ohio, every American Commodore Tuxedo location closed permanently earlier this year. When their Polaris location closed down, they abandoned all their merchandise and failed to pick it up by the required deadline, making it the property of the mall.

General Manager Tamra Bower and Marketing Director Ben Harrison of Polaris Fashion Place decided to donate these 200+ items to ACTION Ohio. 

The suits will be distributed to foster youth at the 2024 Leadership and Life Skills Summit for Ohio foster youth, aged 14-24. There will be volunteers on hand to show youth how to tie their first tie. Young people in and from foster care will be able to wear these suits for job interviews and other important life events.  

We are deeply grateful to Polaris Fashion Place, and to the Ohio Children's Alliance, Buckeye Ranch, El’Lesun and the Central Ohio Community House for their support.