The Back to Work Boutique

The Back to Work Boutique is a program through the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) that provides free new clothes to low-income women in Whatcom County.

If any women are in need of clothing they can call and make an appointment to meet with a consultant who will help them pick out up to 5 new outfits including shoes, jewelry, coat and makeup. "I have been a consultant on Friday mornings here for three to four years now, it is the best thing I do all week," Volunteer Deborah Gaber said, "Women are worthy of my time and energy, it feels great to have people leave happy with the clothes they just got."

Women of all ages who are in need of clothing for any occasion can come to the Back to Work Boutique, "We have a no questions asked policy," YWCA Office Manager, Mary Dickman said. "We have women's clothing for everything, it doesn’t have to be for just back to work."

So far in 2014, 275 women have been served by the Back to Work Boutique, according to YWCA Housing Director, Mary Haggen. On average the boutique sees about three to six women daily and 300 to 500 women over the course of a year. "All agencies in Bellingham help spread the word about us," Dickman said.

The Back to Work Boutique is located in the basement of the YWCA on North Forest Street in downtown Bellingham. It was recently remodeled in 2002 and now is a cozy room filled with racks full of suits, pants, t-shirts, pajamas, shoes and much more. "Every once in a while we get a women who comes in and has nothing but the clothes on her back," Gaber said. "I have met some amazing strong women who have been through struggles."

The Back to Work Boutique is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is always looking for volunteers and donations. The YWCA is a non profit organization, "We have huge community support for donations, but we always looking for more size zero to four, plus sizes and warm coats for during the winter season," Gaber said.

The YWCA recently started the Prom Dress Program, which allows young women of all incomes access to a formal dress for special occasions. Radio station, Praise 106.5 teamed up with the YWCA to spread the word about the Prom Dress Boutique opening. "It's all about spreading the word by mouth,"Haggen said. A prom dress shop that was closing in Canada heard about the boutique on the radio and donated all their dresses, the YWCA now has received over 200 formal dresses and on average sees about 40 to 50 girls this year, "Since I have started working here I have always wanted a Prom Dress Boutique and now I finally got one," Haggen said. "Any girls can get a dress for any reason, even if they just want a new dress for fun."

The YWCA opened in 1915, and since then has provided safe transitional housing for women, and is the only transitional housing program available to single adult women in Whatcom County. Women come to the YWCA for all different types of reason's but the goal of the YWCA is to provide a safe and supportive place for these women to stay while connecting them with the appropriate resources to get their lives back on track and become self-supporting, According to the YWCA website.

The YWCA houses up to 36 women, the average stay is about 60 days in the emergency shelter, and 8 months in the transitional housing program. "We have special events for the women like bingo nights and movie nights. We also help women access treatment and counseling," Haggen said. "The best part about my job is watching women succeed in their sobriety, homelessness and watching their growth."

"My job at the YWCA is hard because things don't always work out the way you want them too, but when they do it is a great feeling and very rewarding. I come to work for the success stories," Dickman said. "The women here are lovely, I love them all."