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First Posted: 3/14/2013 WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Linda Armstrong&#8217;s vision for the Dress for Success program reaches beyond providing career clothes to women as they enter the job market. Armstrong wants to help women who need to change their lives and the futures of their families.
&#8220;When a woman enters our boutique, that is her special time,&#8221; said Armstrong, &#8220;I try to identify all of her needs, including a need for encouragement or direction.&#8221;
She clearly enjoys her calling. Often, when selecting clothes for someone, her eyes light up as she says, &#8220;I have the perfect purse for this outfit; you&#8217;re going to look beautiful.&#8221;
The nonprofit organization at 21 South St., Wilkes-Barre partners with such agencies as Ruth&#8217;s Place, Manna House, Victims Resource Center, and the Domestic Violence Service Center, to identify women who might benefit from its services.
105 affiliates worldwide
There are more than 105 Dress for Success affiliates throughout the world that provide work clothing to low-income and homeless, many of whom have not previously been in the workforce.
Armstrong is well qualified for her position. Having spent more than 30 years as a businesswoman on Wall Street, she learned first-hand the need to be appropriately dressed, to present well and to work hard.
She hasn&#8217;t been without her own challenges. Shortly after opening Dress for Success, her home in West Pittston was severely damaged by the flooding of September 2011.
&#8220;To be honest, it was a time when I didn&#8217;t know what to do,&#8221; Armstrong said. &#8220;I just walked around my home wondering where to start.&#8221;
Then a friend showed up, dressed to help and equipped with some basic tools.
&#8220;That&#8217;s all it took,&#8221; she said, &#8220;I started to get some hope back.&#8221;
She believes everyone can use their own experience, strength and hope to benefit others.
Armstrong, working with &#8220;about seven really solid volunteers,&#8221; meets by appointment with women referred by other agencies. She gathers information about the type of job they are interviewing for and their long-term goals.
&#8220;We seek to dress women of all sizes,&#8221; said Armstrong. &#8220;Everyone needs to be able to give that initial good impression.&#8221;
If a woman does get a job, Armstrong provides additional clothing so that she can succeed during her first few weeks of work.
Armstrong keeps a special binder close by as she works. It contains dozens of thank-you notes received from those who have succeeded in the workforce and improved their lives.
The contents of those notes reflect the deep personal gratitude women have for Armstrong and Dress for Success.
&#8220;You have not only improved my appearance on the outside,&#8221; says one note that Armstrong especially cherishes, &#8220;but you have changed me for the better on the inside.&#8221;
&#8220;In 2012, 25 clients have successfully transitioned to work,&#8221; said Armstrong, &#8220;but this reflects nearly a hundred people who have been removed from the welfare rolls, including their dependents.&#8221;
Armstrong stressed that, although she has a great desire to help women move forward at difficult times in their life, she also focuses on responsibility and perseverance.
She also credits her board of directors with sharing her vision, and offering knowledge and experience allowing her to successfully run Dress for Success.
Linda beams as she looks around at the clothing provided by area residents ready to be put to good use by others.
&#8220;We&#8217;re here for the long term,&#8221; said a smiling Armstrong, &#8220;and that is a very good feeling.&#8221;

Clothing can help make the woman