TALLAHASSEE — Volunteer Florida and Uber today announced that the first-ever #SuitsForSession service project at the Capitol and across Leon County collected 4,023 donations of professional attire for local job-seekers. In addition to collecting items at the Capitol on Tuesday, Uber drivers picked up items across the county for free on Tuesday.
Highlights include:

  • Total items: 4,023
  • Number of women’s items collected: 2,751
  • Number of men’s items collected: 851
  • Other items (shoes, belts, etc.) collected: 421
  • Number of bags of clothing donated through the Uber app: 110
  • Number of Gubernatorial Fellows who volunteered: 12
  • Number of AmeriCorps members who served: 10

Volunteer Florida CEO Chester Spellman said, “Volunteer Florida is overwhelmed by the volume and quality of the donations we received through #SuitsForSession. Florida leaders including Attorney General Pam Bondi, Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater, House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, state agency leaders, and members of the Legislature joined us at #SuitsForSession with their donations throughout the day. The people of Tallahassee matched these donations by bringing and sending in their own. We are grateful for our partnership with Uber, which made it possible for so many people to give.”

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Uber Florida General Manager Matt Gore said, “Tuesday’s first-ever #SuitsForSession service project was a tremendous success, and we are proud to have played a part in making the donation of items easy and convenient for Uber users. Thank you to Volunteer Florida and the generosity of those in Leon County, who came together to collect thousands of items in support of their local community.”

Dress For Success Tallahassee Board of Directors Chair Grace Grindler said, “Dress for Success Tallahassee is honored to have been a recipient of #SuitsForSession 2016. Our organization will be able to empower so many economically disadvantaged women attain and retain employment to better their family’s lives with the donated professional attire from #SuitsForSession. Many thanks to Volunteer Florida and Uber for their outstanding work to support our community professionals.”

Education Commissioner Pam Stewart said, “Having a meaningful job is critical to leading an independent life, and at the Department of Education, we are dedicated to helping all Floridians achieve their career goals. We were thrilled to participate in the #SuitsForSession service project, and we are grateful that our Division of Blind Services clients will benefit from the generosity of so many in the Capital Area.”

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Goodwill Industries – Big Bend, Inc. CEO Fred Shelfer said, “I had the chance to visit the #SuitsForSession display at the Capitol and the amount of donations was remarkable. Goodwill Big Bend thanks Volunteer Florida and Uber for hosting this project, and we’re grateful for the generosity of the people who live and work in Leon County.”

The items will be delivered to Dress For Success Tallahassee, the Goodwill Prosperity Center, and the Florida Department of Education’s Division of Blind Services today.

Click here to see photos and a list of participating agencies, organizations, partners, and individuals.