Garage sale prices and racks upon racks of new and lightly worn business attire drew lines of students Sept. 7 to Cornell Hall for a suit drive.
The event, which was hosted by the Business Career Services Office at the Trulaske College of Business, was pioneered with the goal of giving business students access to affordable, professional outfits.
“It pretty much started when we had our summer welcome for the parents,” Career Specialist Amanda Wooden said. “We had a lot of parents asking if their freshmen needed suits, (which) we highly encouraged. I had some parents come up to me that were really worried that they couldn’t pay for a suit for their student; they just did not have the funds. So I thought why not ask our recruiters if they could donate some suits and sell them to students at a discounted price?”
Prices for the new and barely worn attire have stayed low, hovering around $40, while the number of sponsors has nearly doubled. More than 75 businesses, including Edward Jones, LarsenAllen and Robinsons Cleaners, contributed 304 ties, 172 men’s suits, 96 blazers, 119 men’s dress shirts, 114 pants, 49 women’s suits and 145 women’s pieces to this year’s drive.
“I initially sent out an email to all my companies that hire Mizzou business students and interview on campus,” Wooden said. “We asked them if they would start drives within their organizations, within their companies, with their employees to see who can raise the most items. We have around 1,000 total of actual items that were given this year.”
Prices were the key factor that pushed penniless college students to load up on fancy garb. All suits were $40 or less, depending on the condition, while ties went for $1. Other two-piece women’s suits sold for around $15.
“The selection seemed a bit better this year,” senior Hasban Shaikh said. “The prices were great, there’s no doubt about that. I mean, $1 for a tie and you go to Macy’s and it’s like, $20 at least. You have to dress up and go out places; I’m in business, so we’re dressing up all of the time.”
The selection proved to be less than ideal for others, primarily female students. The majority of clothing options for sale were dominated by male options rather than female options.
“I was looking for clothes for interviews,” Jill Kummer said. “I’m only a sophomore, so I needed to get going and rack up some nice clothes. I felt like there should have been a little more of a selection in the women’s section, though.”
All proceeds from the sales were donated to the Food Bank of Central and Northeast Missouri’s Buddy Pack Program, an organization that donates backpacks full of kid-friendly snacks to kids with little food at home. Last year, the drive raised $3,712. This year, the goal was increased to $5,000.
“It makes me feel good, just because I know that even though most of the companies (that) donated these suits get tax write-offs, the bigger pictures is that they money goes to kids who actually need it,” freshman Megan Six said.
The five-hour suit drive’s success, both in sales and subsequent donations, will ensure its comeback for a third year.
