National Suit Drive

Help veterans dress for success 

Now through the end of September Volunteers of America of Greater Ohio is partnering with Men’s Wearhouse to help veterans in need dress for success during the third annual National Suit Drive, a nationwide donation drive of gently used business attire benefitting at-risk men working toward self-sufficiency.

Volunteers of America has joined hands with Men’s Wearhouse and approximately 200 other charities to distribute the items collected at Men’s Wearhouse locations across the country. Items collected include men’s and women’s suits, shirts, jackets, ties, belts and shoes. To benefit Volunteers of America of Greater Ohio and the homeless veterans they serve, gently used and cleaned items may be donated at eight Columbus area store locations, including: 3862 Morse Rd., Easton Square; 1763 Olentangy River Rd., Lennox Town Center; 5043 Tuttle Crossing Blvd., the Mall at Tuttle Crossing; 1142 Polaris Parkway, Polaris Town Center; 2729 Eastland Mall, Eastland Mall Center; 1500 Polaris Parkway #2000, Polaris Fashion Place; 1621 Georgesville Square Dr., Georgesville Square; 3922 Townsfair Way, Easton Town Center.

“We are so excited to be a part of the National Suit Drive. Many of the veterans we serve have been out of the workforce for quite some time and having a suit and tie gives them the extra boost of confidence they need while they look for a job,” said Sara Dodeci, Employment Resource Center program director, Volunteers of America of Greater Ohio.

All items collected in the Columbus area will be donated to the Volunteers of America Employment Resource Center career clothing closet. The Employment Resource Center is a Volunteers of America veterans program that provides homeless veterans with job-training and connects them with local employers interested in hiring veterans. 

After serving our country, many veterans return home to unemployment, and even homelessness. Veterans make up a disproportionate share of the homeless population, representing 26 percent of the homeless population, but only 11 percent of the civilian population according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness. Homeless veterans suffer from a general feeling of disempowerment, isolation, fear, distrust, and resentment. Over 90% of these homeless veterans have been unemployed for more than three years, while 79% report having no employment in the past 30 days. In an effort to combat veteran homelessness, Volunteers of America works to help veterans re-enter the workforce by providing supportive employment services, career clothing and transportation assistance to over 300 veterans in central Ohio each year.

Nationally, Men’s Wearhouse hopes to collect more than 100,000 articles of clothing to benefit charities such as Volunteers of America.

For every suit collected, Men’s Wearhouse will donate one dress shirt to the cause. As a thank you, donors will receive a 25 percent off coupon* towards their next purchase at Men’s Wearhouse.