KU to stage Professional Clothing Drive

LAWRENCE — Delta Epsilon Iota, a career-focused honor society at the University of Kansas, will have its annual professional clothing drive in the month of November to benefit KU students in need of professional attire.

All professional clothing donations will stock the Professional Clothing Closet in the University Career Center, 110 Burge Union. KU students can take clothes from the closet for interviews, career fairs and other professional activities year-round at no cost.

The closet is now in its third year and has been a success on campus. Last year there were more than 500 acceptable donations received and more than 450 items taken by KU students.

DEI was awarded Service Program of the Year on campus by the 2011-2012 Jayhawk Choice Awards for the success of last year's drive.

"As word has gotten out about this service, more and more students are visiting the closet and taking items. I feel the number of student visits will only continue to increase this year; therefore, we need more donations to be able to keep the closet stocked and operational," said Erin Wolfram, assistant director at the University Career Center and DEI adviser.

Items accepted as donations include:

• Full suits (coat and pants or skirt)
• Contemporary suit jackets or blazers
• Shirts/blouses appropriate to wear underneath a suit coat
• Women's dress slacks
• Work-appropriate dresses
• Skirts in darker colors (black, brown or dark gray)
• Ties
• Briefcases
• Portfolios
• Closed-toe dress shoes

Donations can be dropped off during the month of November at the following locations:
• University Career Center, 110 Burge Union
• Business Career Services Center, 125 Summerfield Hall
• Journalism Career Center, 120 Stauffer-Flint Hall
• Engineering Career Center, 1001 Eaton Hall
• KU Edwards Campus

In addition, the University Career Center, 110 Burge Union, accepts donations year-round.

All items received that are not accepted will be donated to local charities in Lawrence. Any monetary donations received in exchange for clothing will go to the Willow Domestic Violence Center.

Delta Epsilon Iota's mission has been to educate our members on career development issues, encourage students to excel academically, and promote the principles of Dedication, Enthusiasm, and Initiative in all aspects of campus life. Over the years, the Society has embraced these values and today is one of the leading academic development organizations serving higher education.