It started when Oprah sold some of her clothes to help women get back into the workforce, says Goodwill Special Project Coordinator Nancy Doub. “We didn’t want to really raise money,” Doub says of starting Success Outfitters, a service providing professional attire to individuals in need. “It was just a concept of giving back to the community.”

Success Outfitters served approximately 550 individuals last year. “The purpose is to provide clothes for an interview and on the job. [Clients] can come in, and they can get two outfits. If they get the job, they can come back and get enough clothes for a week—we encourage mix and match—and usually, that will get them to a paycheck,” she says.

While the program initially served only Goodwill clients, it has now expanded to the community, with Goodwill’s partners now able to refer clients. “People can’t just walk in off the street. We have to know the organization or know someone in the organization, and they have to make an appointment.”

Success Outfitters was founded three years ago by Goodwill Industries of Northwest North Carolina, in partnership with Randstad USA and Hospice & Palliative CareCenter. Individuals can make donations, although the majority of items come through corporate drives. The program is currently in need of plus sizes, men’s shoes, and nursing uniforms.

For more information, go to successoutfitters.org