There are many volunteers here at the YWCA Bellingham. Our main volunteer program is The Boutique which provides free clothing for women in need.
There are just over 400 women who use the Boutique annually. We are able to provide everything from socks to coats and everything in between. Volunteers work with the clients to choose clothing that suits their body type, their need, and their personality.
We estimate that approximately two shopping carts full of clothing arrive here each day. That's a LOT of clothing!! We share clothing with the Bellingham Theatre Guild's costume department, the local ARC association, and just recently agreed to share donations with Wise Buys.
The most often asked question is "What do you need?" The list of what we take for the Boutique is quite simple: we aren't able to take used toiletries, cosmetics, or panties. Everything else: clothing, coats, shoes, purses, bras, jewelry is welcome. We only request that the items be clean, in good repair, and somewhat timely. (no 80's dayglo sweatshirts or Grammy's favorite polyester dress, please)
We
have had many success stories from the Boutique, from successful job
interviews to a beautiful prom dress for a teenager in need.
“I
went to the Back to Work Boutique at the YWCA in Bellingham. It is a
great program and I got a lot of nice outfits. The woman that worked
there was very helpful. She found clothes for me to try on and I really
liked her selecting clothing that would look good on me. Thank you.”
The Boutique depends on the generosity of our community. The next time you clean out that closet or dresser drawer, think of us. We have friends who would love to have it!
