Briana Oliver spent about two hours Tuesday shopping for a wardrobe to use later this summer when she starts her new career as a first-grade teacher.
Oliver just graduated from Lincoln University. Having been a student for years, she didn't have much money to spend.
Fortunately, Kathy Crow, whom she works with at the Boys & Girls Club of Jefferson City, knew where to take her.
Dreams to Reality, at 500 Jefferson St., is a nonprofit organization aimed at supporting women in transition by providing appropriate interview and work attire to help them be confident and prepared for career opportunities.
If not for Dreams to Reality, "I probably would have had to save up some money and tried to go to buy a few things here and there," Oliver said, "or ask someone or a family member."
Clients at the nonprofit, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary all year, normally receive a week's worth of clothing for their jobs, Executive Director Lorie Smith said. Sometimes the clients, who are referred by partner agencies, schools or businesses, receive clothing to wear to interviews.
That's how it started, Smith said.
Organizers started Dreams to Reality, the story goes, because a number of women went to a business to interview for a job.
"The women who were being interviewed were passing the same jacket back down the row so they could wear it to the interview," Smith said. "They were coming out the door and giving it to the next person."
The nonprofit started with a closet but grew and grew, she said.
Leading area businesswomen who had closets full of extra business attire they weren't wearing offered to help the women starting out, said Molly Nichols, president-elect of the nonprofit's board.
"They thought, 'What if we could help women with these things? We could do this. We could start something,'" Nichols said.
From the beginning, however, organizers realized they couldn't simply put clothing on racks and leave clients to make decisions about them on their own.
"A lot of these women don't go shopping," Nichols said. "They don't know what to look for. They, maybe, don't know what fits them properly - what looks good on them."
And they might not be good at matching clothing.
So the organizers helped with selections. Eventually, the volunteers earned the title "image consultant."
The process doesn't take long, about an hour and a half to two hours, said Joan Doerhoff, the consultant who assisted Oliver.
It can mean a great deal to clients, Doerhoff said.
They leave feeling empowered.
"That's what we're here for - to help them feel good about themselves," she said. "I think we accomplish that. You can see it in their eyes."
The first step is to walk the clients through and discuss with them the things they are attracted to.
"Then the image consultants can help them with pairing things together that they haven't thought of," Nichols said. "I know I sometimes settle for 'The sleeves are a little too long.' Is it really OK that those sleeves are a little too long, or does it look really goofy? That's what we can help them with."
A lot of the clients don't have that shopping experience, she said.
Consultants try to set clients up with things they can mix and match.
"It's a little bit of everything," Nichols said.
Oliver received skirts, dresses, khaki slacks, jewelry, purses, body lotions and sprays, and shoes.
She said she wouldn't have known where to look for the clothes she found.
"I appreciate them just for being here to help me find clothes for my career," Oliver said. "It's awesome."
All clients are measured and receive a new bra, Smith said.
Dreams to Reality also provides non-skid shoes for women who need them for work. It distributed 81 pairs of the shoes last year. It keeps all sizes of them in stock. It also can provide steel-toed shoes for women going to work in industries where safety shoes are required. The nonprofit provided three pairs of steel-toed shoes to clients last year.
The nonprofit continues to expand, serving 285 women in 2019. However, it was closed more than two months this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, so numbers are expected to be down for 2020.
After being fitted for a bra, clients search through racks of clothing that are available only for them. There is also a large portion of the nonprofit organized for "retail."
The retail side is set up to help raise money for the organization. But prices are very low there. Tops cost $4, pants cost $5, dresses are $9 and shoes are $4 per pair.
"Our message is, 'You can shop here.' This is open to the public," Smith said. "I think there is a lot of misconception that all of this is only for our clients or that shopping is taking away from clients."
That's not correct, she continued.
"We are very lucky to have an abundance - there's plenty for clients and shopping. The retail funds us, so it's really important," Smith said.
Hours are 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, 4-6 p.m. Wednesdays, and 9 a.m.-noon the first and third Saturday of each month.
As part of its anniversary, the nonprofit is giving away a $20 gift certificate every month. Women can register for the gift certificate each time they come in to shop.
"Twenty dollars goes a long way here because our prices are good," Smith said. "You can get an entire outfit here for $25."
Donations of gently used, cleaned garments are gladly accepted. All donations must be on hangers. The nonprofit is currently accepting spring/summer clothing. It will begin accepting fall/winter clothing Aug. 1. It will accept shoes, purses, jewelry, unopened hosiery and makeup, and new undergarments that have the tags attached.
Call 573-681-9675 prior to making a visit to donate.
Sponsors are also needed for Dreams to Reality's fundraiser, "9 and Wine."
The women-only golf tournament is scheduled for Sept. 14 at Oak Hills Golf Club. Individual sponsors are $50, and corporate sponsors are $100. An "after-party" is scheduled for 2 p.m. During the after party, there is to be a raffle and jewelry sale.
For more information about Dreams to Reality, visit dreamstoreality-jc.org.