Why do you call yourselves a Sustainability Project?
Dress It Up is focused on Triple Bottom Line Sustainability. This includes social, environmental, and economic sustainability; also referred to as People, Planet, and Prosperity.
Social/People
Dress It Up is committed to improving the lives of those within our communities. We attempt to bring equity and well-being to individuals receiving our donated items. By providing items like homecoming dresses to underserved teens, we hope to remove the barriers preventing them from participating in homecoming.
Environmental/Planet
Dress It Up collects gently-used items for donation. Collecting used items helps keep textiles out of landfills. Everyone has a homecoming dress, bridesmaid dress, or some other gently-used garment that you will never wear again. Dress It Up and its Team of Ambassadors collect these items to upcycle and reuse by others. Recycling of textiles promotes environmental sustainability and contributes to benefits in climate resistance, energy conservation, and reduction in carbon emissions,
Economic/Prosperity
Creating efficient models run by the power of Ambassadors and volunteers allows Dress It Up to host events at nearly zero cost. We collect donations and distribute them to those most in need with minimal expense.
What types of organizations can participate?
Any organization can participate in a Dress it Up event. Organizations can include high schools, middle schools, universities, churches, clubs, sports teams, dance studios, cheerleading gyms, theater groups, etc.
Receiving Organizations are most often Foster Boutiques, Children's Homes, Title One Schools, and Community Closets.
How are Giving and Receiving Organizations paired together?
Dress It Up pairs organizations within the same geography. This makes it easy to deliver items between organizations.
Dress It Up works with local foster homes, children's homes, Title One schools, and other organizations in need. These organizations become our Receiving Organizations.
How many Ambassadors Represent each organization?
Typically, one Ambassador represents an organization. Dress It Up carefully interviews and selects Ambassadors to become part of the Team. Ambassadors remain with Dress It Up until they graduate or resign. Ambassadors do not work alone! Ambassadors recruit a club or group within their organization to help host the Collection/Distribution Event.
What are Collection and Distribution Events?
Collection Event
The Ambassador of the Giving Organization hosts a Collection Event. The Ambassador partners with volunteers within their organization to collect items. See our Become an Ambassador Page for the 3 types of Collection Events. Members of the organization bring the garments they have collected, inspected, and cleaned to the event. The volunteers collect, inventory, hang, bag, and box the garments. They then give the items to the Receiving Organization. Dress It Up provides materials such as hangers, garment bags, advertising templates, and issues Service Hours.
Distribution Event
The Ambassador of the Receiving Organization hosts a Distribution Event. The Ambassador partners with volunteers within their organization to help give out or sell items. The Receiving Organization can choose to give away the garments or sell them as a fundraiser. Organizations choosing to sell garments must follow the rules of their organization. Dress It Up does not participate in selling or collecting money from garments. Dress It Up provides Service Hours to the Ambassador and volunteers who worked the event.
If the Receiving Organization is a foster home or children's home, the Ambassador simply delivers the donated items.
Upcoming Events
Check back often for new events
7
November
2024
Steinbrenner High School
Semi-formal and Formalwear Collection
8
November
2024
Steinbrenner High School
Semi-formal and Formalwear Collection
12
November
2024
All American Dance Factory
Dancewear Collection
12
November
2024
Tampa Catholic High School
Menswear Collection to benefit Nameless Ministries
December
2024
Coming Soon:
Plant High School
Clothing Drive
December
2024
Ongoing: Clothing Collection to stock Tinker K-8
December
2024
Ongoing: Clothing Collection to stock Alonso HS Student Closet
December
2024
Ongoing:
Clothing Collection to stock BT Washington Elementary School