In 2005, the members
of the Mission Committee of First Presbyterian Church in Waterloo
decided to develop new ways to reach out to the Cedar Valley
community. The idea that seemed to attract the interest of the
entire group was a free clothing center. This center would assist
women who were going on job interviews but did not have suitable
clothing. After that initial meeting Gale Quirk, moderator/elder
of the Mission Committee, gathered twelve women from the community
who together created the “More Than Fashion” board.
The initial goal of More Than Fashion was to provide clothing
to women who had interviews for jobs in the community and had
been recommended to More Than Fashion for assistance. In the
past year, More Than Fashion has reached out to women who were
recently released from prison, women from the Seeds of Hope
program who came from abusive relationships, women from the
Pathways Program who are fighting drug and alcohol abuse, and
women who have been struggling with such health issues as cancer
and now need to return to work.
The response from the Cedar Valley has been amazing. Every
Monday clothing donations are brought to First Presbyterian
Church where volunteers sort them and then stock the shelves
of the More Than Fashion rooms. Clients make confidential appointments
with Gale Quirk and her volunteer staff for clothing selection
and fittings.
The Presbytery of North Central Iowa has been instrumental
in the success of the program by supporting More Than Fashion
with a financial grant for the items and fixtures needed to
carry out this vital ministry to the community of Waterloo and
the Cedar Valley.
The Presbytery of North Central Iowa has 55 churches and 8,983
members.
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