The Wardrobe, a local nonprofit dedicated to eliminating clothing insecurity, is inviting members of the LGBTQ+ community to access free attire at its next Open Wardrobe event on Wednesday, Oct. 29, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Held monthly to support specific communities, the Open Wardrobe initiative provides free clothing and additional resources in a welcoming environment. This month’s event will take place simultaneously at five Wardrobe locations: Philadelphia, Upper Darby, Exton, Norristown, and Kennett Square.
Mars Sharrock, program director at The Wardrobe, said the LGBTQ+ Open Wardrobe events have become an important space for attendees to find both clothing and community.
“Supportive basic-need spaces for LGBTQ+ people are harder and harder to come by,” Sharrock said. “We want to support our communities by giving them the things they need to survive and to express themselves.”
Open Wardrobe will be available at five locations: 413 N. 4th St. (Philadelphia); 62 W. Marshall Road (Upper Darby); 345 Scarlett Road (Kennett Square); the Exton Square Mall (2nd floor near Boscov’s), and a new location in the Montgomery County Senior Adult Activities Center, 536 George Street (Norristown).
No appointment is necessary, but attendees are required to RSVP online at wardrobepa.org/open-wardrobe/
Year-round impact and services
The Wardrobe supports approximately 10,000 people annually with the clothing and tools needed to move forward toward independence and stability. They also offer education programs, one-on-one coaching and workshops to help people succeed professionally.
The nonprofit upcycles more than 200,000 pounds of gently used or new clothing annually, creating a reliable source of quality, free clothes to help empower participants. Every item donated to The Wardrobe is ethically repurposed—either used for free guest services, added to its resale inventory, or recycled.
Beyond clothing, The Wardrobe provides a Wings for Success education program, which offers one-on-one coaching and workshops to help participants achieve professional or personal goals.
For more information, visit careerwardrobe.org
