ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, January 12, 1997 TAG: 9701130030
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-8 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE
SOURCE: SARAH CAGLE THE DAILY PROGRESS
THE ALBEMARLE BAPTIST ASSOCIATION has opened its Clothing Center this week, offering makeovers, haircuts, and workplace attire to welfare recipients. The association will also host a seminar to help with job applications, resumes and interview skills.
Twenty-year-old Tina Turner knows that if she doesn't walk into a job interview looking neat and professional, her chances of being hired could suffer.
``If you walk in there sloppy-looking, they'll think you might be sloppy in your job, too,'' the Charlottesville resident said.
But like many others on welfare, Turner spends her government checks on rent, utilities, food and her children, leaving nothing for clothes to wear to a job interview or, for that matter, on the job.
So with a new Virginia law to force people off welfare rolls and into the job market, a group of Southern Baptist churches has rushed to fill the need for job attire.
The Albemarle Baptist Association opened its Clothing Center this week to employment-seeking welfare recipients with a special open house offering free makeovers, haircuts and personal shoppers to help them pick through the used clothing.
``It's good for the mothers, mostly, who might not have money to get a haircut or a makeover,'' said Turner, who had her hair done Tuesday by a volunteer stylist at the Clothing Center. ``It's nice that they're doing this because a lot of people can't get out and get clothes.''
Under the state's welfare-to-work reform, benefits recipients face a two-year time limit on cash assistance.
``We're going to have people starving if we don't get going,'' said Liz Emrey, director of church and community development for the Albemarle Baptist Association.
For welfare reform to succeed, organizations outside of social services will have to get involved, said Robert Cox III, Charlottesville's social services director.
``The idea of a clothes closet is a very good idea,'' Cox said. ``It has been used successfully in other places that have already tried welfare reform.''
``This is right along the lines of what churches can do,'' said Kathy Ralston, acting social services director for Albemarle County.
The Albemarle Baptist Association represents 43 Southern Baptist churches in Charlottesville and Albemarle, Greene and Fluvanna counties.
Some of the jobs to be offered to welfare recipients are in the food service industry, so they will need to purchase uniforms or particular kinds of clothing, Emrey said.
For that reason, white shirts and blue or black slacks are in demand at the clothes closet, as are hospital and other uniforms, she said.
To ensure the program benefits those in need, the association requires any user of the career clothes closet to bring a note from a social service agency or a church, Emrey said.
The association also will host a seminar to help with job applications, resumes and interviews, she said.
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