Women create Dressed for Success Q-C

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By Mary Louise Speer | Friday, July 25, 2008 11:29 PM CDT | () comments

No one wants to begin a fresh new school year in worn-out, raggedy clothes.

Amanda Colclasure and Sarah Lueth, both the mothers of young children and members of Heritage Church, are working to ensure local children in need have new or gently used outfits for the 2008-09 school year. The women are co-founders of

the Dressed for Success Q-C program.

Thinking of the need “breaks my heart. It’s so critical for their self esteem to have something appropriate for school,” Colclasure said.

The idea for a community-wide clothing drive occurred to her on Mother’s Day and the event blossomed from there, she said. Three churches are taking donations and the group of volunteers will accept donations at NorthPark and SouthPark malls during Iowa’s tax-free weekend Aug. 1-2. People can also contribute at a Trivia Night at the Knights of Columbus Hall.

“On Mother’s Day I was home in my own little pity party because none of my laundry was done and I had nothing to wear to church,” Colclasure said.

Gradually it dawned on her that she does have clothes to wear and so do her children, she said. However, there are youngsters who don’t. She began researching just how big the need is in the Quad-Cities and discovered thousands of children who could benefit from having decent school clothing.

“The need is so big I thought there was no way I can do this,” Colclasure said.

Lueth recalls struggling with depression while driving to a Wednesday morning Bible study. Hand-me-downs are a fact of life for her

three sons, although the oldest is most likely to get new clothes.

“God told me I was fortunate. Other people don’t have clothes or have clothes that are too small,” Lueth said.

During Bible study she wondered what it would mean to give to others. “I could feel God saying tell them what I told you to do,” she said. Finally she blurted out the thoughts running through her mind and another person urged her to talk to Colclasure.

Dressed for Success was born. “The ultimate goal is to have this program be like Toys for Tots, something continuous,” Lueth said.

Both women would love to collect enough clothing to outfit the approximately 10,000 children in the Quad-Cities who are on free and reduced lunch, she said. They are working with school districts to determine who will benefit from this year’s contributions.

“Our biggest need is to get people to work the malls during next weekend,” Colclasure said. “This is a great way for families to serve together. It’s a way for kids to help other kids who may be their classmates.”

Interested persons can also assist with picking up clothing and getting donations ready for distribution.

Faith Moncivaiz, of Heritage Church, and her husband facilitated a mini clothing drive for Dressed for Success during Vacation Bible School. “We encouraged the children to bring in clothing for children who are needy. A lot of times children don’t think they have enough, and this helps them to be more grateful for what they do have,” she said.

Her young grandson gave her a pair of shoes and said, “Oh, Nana, they’re going to love these. They’re going to love these.”

Donations of new or gently used clothing for boys and girls are welcome. The clothing sizes are 5T to youth size 16 and acceptable items are dresses, skirts, pants, jeans, button down and nice shirts, sweaters and packages of new socks and underwear. Please do not donate anything with holes, stains or tears, used socks or underwear, T-shirts, pajamas or jogging clothes. Cash donations are also welcome.

For more information, call (563) 320-5437 or send emails to: dressedforsuccessqc@hotmail.com

The city desk can be contacted at (563) 383-2450 or newsroom@qctimes.com.