displays professional clothing that is available at the Student Advocacy
and Resource Center. (Photo by Shengnan Gao)
By Shengnan Gao
The Scene staff
Students are often short on money, but they need food, toiletries and professional clothing for job interviews, work and school.
Two programs at St. Louis Community College have their backs. One is the Student Advocacy and Resource Center, which has locations on all STLCC campuses. Staff helps students succeed, personally and academically, by helping them meet basic needs and overcome barriers that may interfere with educational goals.
“Our Archers’ Market provides basic things for students for free,” said SARC Coordinator Candice Pinkins. “For example, grab-and-go meals and snacks, groceries, personal-care products and other items.”
The market is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Fridays in Student Center Room 256. Any student can stop by and “shop.”
In February, SARC partnered with STLCC Career Development and Student Success on a clothing drive. They asked people to donate gently worn, freshly washed modern professional clothing for all sizes and genders.
“We hang them up, steam them, get the wrinkles out, and make sure all the clothing donated is in good shape,” said Jacqueline Meaders Booth, director of STLCC Career Development and Success. “And then we put them on the racks or fold them neatly.”
This includes matching suit jacket and pants or skirts, blazers, slacks, blouses or shell tops, button-down shirts, ties and bowties, dress shoes, dress belts, socks and panty hose.
On March 21, students were invited to shop for clothing items at a pop-up-style boutique in the Highlander Lounge on the Forest Park campus.
“We feel that it’s important that we help students plan for unplanned expenses, such as professional attire,” Booth said. “This is an opportunity to give them professional clothing to help them move in a direction seeking job opportunities, interviews, job shadowing and internships.”
Students who missed the pop-up-style boutique can still look at professional clothing in time for the next STLCC career fair March 29 on the Meramec campus.
Such career fairs also are held on other campuses. They give students an opportunity to interview, ask questions and make first impressions on representatives of companies and organizations looking to hire.
“We want to make sure (students) feel comfortable when they get these opportunities and want them to present the best of themselves,” Booth said. “We figured one way that we can help our students with that is by providing this professional-clothing experience.”
To reach Pinkins, call 314-644-9027. To make an appointment with Basic Needs Support Specialist Everado Avila Jr., write to eavilajr@stlcc.edu
