Woman's Club collects clothing for Abby's House residents
By Mary Pritchard Contributing Writer

(l to r) Susan Arraje, Abby's House housing advocate; General Federation of Women's Clubs of Massachusetts President Lorraine Gorham; and Edla Bloom, Abby's House development director, gather together at the monthly meeting of the Westborough Woman's Club held at the Evangelical Congregational Church in Westborough Oct. 9. The Westborough Woman's Club is holding a business clothing drive to benefit Abby's House residents. PHOTO/MARY PRITCHARD

Westborough - The Westborough Woman's Club is doing their part to help other women in their community by holding a business clothing drive.

"What will I wear?" is a question that goes through the minds of most people each day. With the help from their community, women at a local shelter will experience a little of that luxury of having a choice of what to wear as they embark on job interviews and to their jobs.

The club is collecting clean, gently used or new women's business clothing to be donated to the clients of Abby's House in Worcester.

"Clients of the shelter do not always have resources for clothing," said Judy Wilchynski, president of the Westborough Woman's Club.

According to its Web site, Abby's House provides emergency long-term affordable housing, as well as advocacy and support services to homeless, battered and low-income women with or without children. By educating the women who use its services, Abby's House strives to empower their clients to "lead self-directed lives full of dignity and hope."

The shelter also educates the community about the daily struggles of these women as they move forward pursuing their goals.

The Westborough project was inspired by an international project undertaken by women's clubs in honor of Domestic Violence Month. The Westborough Woman's Club is a member of the General Federation of Women's Clubs of Massachusetts. There is also an international organization in Washington, D.C., and the current president of the international organization, Jackie Pierce, has chosen domestic violence as the "International President's Project."

To participate in the "International President's Project," President of the General Federation of Women's Clubs of Massachusetts Lorraine Gorham chose the project "Dress for Success," which collects clothing and donates it for the use of women trying to obtain jobs or who are already working and need assistance obtaining business clothing.

The Westborough Woman's Club members decided to take part in this endeavor at the local level and donate the clothing directly to a shelter nearby. Wilchynski and her family have been making donations to Abby's House for about 18 years, so she suggested this shelter to the club.

"We wanted to donate to a place that our club members and our community were familiar with," Wilchynski said. "Staff members from Abby's House attended the club's monthly meeting to speak about the shelter and all that they off er to help women in need. This was really great because it gave our members the opportunity to learn more about who we are trying to help with the clothing drive."

According to Wilchynski, the Westborough Woman's Club has about 75 members and meets the second Tuesday of each month from October through April.

"Members of the club have really embraced this project with their generous donations," she said. "So many gracious donations have also been made by the local community and we thank all who have supported this project."

Donations can be made through the end of October by calling Judy Wilchynski at 508-870-1895. Donations of various types can also be made directly to the shelter. For more information, visit www.abbyshouse.org.