Military veterans and San Diego leaders on Thursday kicked off a two-week women’s clothing drive at the Veterans Museum in Balboa Park.
Operation Dress Code will provide donated suits and other professional attire, including shoes and accessories, to women who are transitioning from the military into civilian careers.
“Often times we don’t, as veterans know how to begin the job search in the civilian world — it’s very different from the military and we don’t have the attire needed or even necessarily know how to put the attire together to have an effective job interview,” said Lindsey Sin, deputy secretary for Women Veterans Affairs in California.
Sin said the project is about empowering women with the tools they need to enter the civilian workforce with the respect they’ve earned.
“We know that when women veterans get back into the work force they’re highly successful,” Sin said. “They usually go into managerial positions. They also work for the federal and local state government at higher rates.”
Pink collection boxes are set up at a dozen locations across San Diego County, including San Diego City Hall, San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Veterans Museum in Balboa Park.
Clothing will be collected through Nov. 9 and distributed to women veterans on Nov. 14 at Ashford University.
