Grad student collects work clothes for needy

Armani and Brooks Brothers suits were among the 400 to 500 articles of clothing donated by Wharton School of Business graduate students to Operation Clothesline last week. According to first-year Wharton graduate student and project coordinator Laurel Wissinger, Operation Clothesline was designed to give students at the Employment Project a wardrobe of working clothes for their job searches and interviews. The Employment Project, located in downtown Philadelphia, is a social service agency dedicated to helping unemployed individuals find jobs by teaching them functional skills and providing them with support services, Wissinger explained. "It's kind of hard to look for a job when you don't even have the clothes to go to the interview," she said. The idea for Operation Clothesline originated when Wissinger noticed a few articles of clothing in her friend's closet that her friend never wore. She realized that there were other Wharton students who have clothes in excellent condition but do not wear them. So with the help of her roommate, Wissinger proceeded to find an organization that could benefit from donations of business clothing. After two weeks of searching, she discovered the Employment Project, and worked with them to develop Operation Clothesline. Intending to have people bring items from home, she publicized the event prior to winter break. And last week she set up a table in Vance Hall's student lounge to collect the clothing. "The response was incredible, both in the quality and quantity of clothing," Wissinger said. Many students donated a few pieces of clothing each, but a few people brought bags filled with clothing, according to Wissinger. Operation Clothesline received numerous ties, shirts, pants, sweaters, skirts and blouses. "Someone even gave a bathing suit," Wissinger added. At the end of last week, Wissinger and 15 other Wharton graduate students transported carloads of clothing downtown to the Employment Project office -- which resembled a boutique, displaying clothing so that current students and graduates could "shop around." According to Wissinger, approximately 75 to 100 people visited the boutique during the three hours it was open. Most of these individuals were able to pick out appropriate outfits. Organizers said they thought the event was a success. "I thought it was fantastic," first-year Wharton graduate student and Operation Clothesline participant Kevin Chinoy said. "I was impressed with the organization that we worked with." Wissinger said she agreed. "Not only did we make a difference, but we had fun doing it as well," she said. While Wissinger admitted that she was probably not the first person to come up with such an idea, she said she hopes to make Operation Clothesline a tradition at Wharton.