Veterans Professional Attire Drive
A Note from Mary Hagy, Union League Veterans Initiative Chair
When the Veterans Initiative decided to conduct a Professional Attire Drive for Veterans and family members, we weren’t sure how much clothing would be raised, or how to find transportation, storage, distribution, and funding necessary to make it happen. The one thing we did know was the right person to take on the charge as Chair.
28 wardrobe boxes filled with more than 1,000 total items. 314 suits and blazers. 306 ties to accessorize 165 shirts which could match with 65 pairs of pants. More than 200 ladies blouses, slacks, shoes, jewelry, sweaters and handbags. (And, for those extra special professional nights, 1 tuxedo - thanks, Lloyd Remick!)
As those numbers sink in, add to the mix that much of the clothing was custom-made, or hailed from clothiers such as Brooks Brothers, Hermes, Boyd’s and Ralph Lauren.
At the center of this whirlwind was master clothier Henry Davidsen’s Michael J. Muscarella, Chair of the Professional Attire Drive, assisted by a superhuman team of Christyn Moran Muscarella, Dorothy K. Moran, David Russell, Megan Russell, Walt B. Lotspeich and Michael Hagy.
On May 18, the team worked fast and furious as the clothing poured in from Union League members who were delighted to donate their gently used clothing to support Veterans in their job searches.
On May 19, thanks to Frank Giordano and Atlantic Trailer Leasing, all 28 wardrobe boxes were delivered on time and in pristine condition to our distribution point at Drexel University. Dr. Rebecca Weidensaul and the super folks at Drexel had our venue set up, volunteers on hand to help move boxes, and to decorate the beautiful lobby with military posters and red, white and blue balloons. They scheduled their very moving Memorial Day Primer event to coincide with the drive, which was a rich combination.
What happened next? Let’s just say that by the end of the day, we had distributed the boxes and boxes of clothing to the many veterans who came to be fitted and were genuinely stunned and grateful for the quality of the suits. Vets who arrived saw the offerings and immediately called, emailed tweeted and posted on Facebook to get their fellow vets to get there as soon as possible. Veteran Service Organizations such as the Veterans Group Home, Impact Philadelphia, the Veterans Multi-Service Center and more, came to gratefully accept clothing donations for their vets. The Salvation Army, a wonderful partner, took the remaining clothing to the Veterans Administration.
We will be sharing photos on the Veterans Initiative website tab. Thank you to Michael and team – you made this a spectacular success and many thanks to Drexel University for a simply spectacular partnership.
Love of Country Leads!
Mary Hagy
