Stepping out into the community

One of the reasons I was drawn to the Tulane Masters in Pharmacology is because the university places a large emphasis on service in the community. Although in the first few months of our program we didn't have quite so much time to become involved, we have been presented with a variety of ways to give back this fall.

The first group volunteer opportunity I participated in was Outreach Tulane; this day - organized by Tulane undergraduates - aimed to bring out all kinds of students to volunteer around New Orleans. Around 15 of us in the Pharmacology program signed up, and I was placed in the same group as three of my colleagues. On the sunny, warm morning of September 15th, we headed out to meet with the rest of our group on the Uptown Tulane campus. Our group was assigned to assist the organization Dress for Success in its biannual suit sale at a local mall. Although I had never volunteered with this group, I had heard about it in my hometown of Madison, WI. The women who were running the clothing sale gave us all a brief description of the goals of the organization. Dress for Success aims to provide women from a variety of disadvantaged backgrounds with the clothing necessary to interview for, and succeed at a job. Women looking for an occupation come to meet with the organizers of Dress for Success, are fitted with a suit, and are then encouraged to interview. If a woman lands a job, she is invited back to Dress for Success to pick out five additional suits and to join the "professional organization." Those in the Dress for Success professional organization meet frequently to participate in workshops that help working women balance their responsibilities, gain skills that are beneficial in the workplace, and provide an environment to interact with other working women.

At first, it seemed as though our group of 15 volunteers had nothing to do. The make-shift store was already organized and open for business, and there were a multitude of women helping out customers. One organizer split us up to do different tasks however. A few boys were sent out into the mall to hand out fliers to the public. Another Pharmacology graduate student was given the opportunity to dress up in business casual and model around the store and mall. A few girls worked the floor and helped to keep the racks stocked. The majority of us, however, were given free reign in the backroom to hang and organize the hundreds of outfits that were still in boxes. Once we all got over those first, awkward 15 minutes (where no one wants to take delegate, but everyone is willing to offer polite suggestions,) and once we had a few falls and laughs, we became a team of determined ladies. Soon customers were coming into the backroom to request help in finding specific items or to just chat. By the end of the afternoon, all of us - from the volunteers, to the Dress for Success organizers, to the customers - were having a great time getting to know each other and helping each other out. It was one of the few times in my life that I have felt such camaraderie with fellow females of all ages, and it was through an organization that grants independence and support to working women everywhere.

I genuinely loved volunteering with Dress for Success. It was the first time I had really interacted with New Orleanians, and it was the first time I had stepped out into the community to give back. Although I originally felt that the organization of Outreach Tulane could have been handled better, or that we could have had more direction at the actual clothing sale, it turned out to all be perfect. It was a chance for me to do whatever I could to help make the event successful. Through the small, but significant actions of organizing clothing at a clothing drive, not only was I able to be of service to a non-profit organization, but I was also able to help out the individual. The greatest moment for me that day was when I could find a suit for an older lady. She took one look at the pale blue linen material and I could see the happiness in her eyes. Before she and her daughter left the store, she came back to say thank you; she had bought the suit and was preparing for an interview in the near future.


Check out Dress for Success at: http://www.dressforsuccess.org/affiliate.aspx?pageid=1&sisid=49 . They accept donations in the form of money or clothing/shoes/accessories, and they are always looking for sponsors and volunteers!