Donate business clothes

It's time to clean out your closets.

Not just because it's spring. But to support the new local chapter of Dress for Success and the group's national Send One Suit campaign.

The group is asking women to donate clothes appropriate for a job interview or work environment. That pantsuit or matching skirt, blouse and jacket might just help a local low-income woman land a job that can get her back on her feet financially, or perhaps even start a new career.

Pat Nathan, the founder of the local chapter, says the suit drive is important because some women don't have the means to buy a new interview suit. "They need jobs to get clothes, but they need clothes to get the job," she says.

Gathering clothes has been a big part of the group's mission. Since forming in 1997, more than 400,000 women have been given business-appropriate clothing. Dress for Success also provides mentoring and professional development to clients.

But locally, efforts are just getting started. Nathan, who heard about the group while working in London, has been leading the effort to start a local chapter since August. In February, organizers were granted approval and are now working to put together a new boutique and career center in the basement of Northgate Mall in Durham. In Wake County, they've partnered with the Soroptimist group in Raleigh, which already has a professional clothing closet for women.

Women are referred to the group by a local social service agency or nonprofit group. Each woman gets an interview suit at her first visit. And then once she finds a job, she gets enough to get her through the first week at work.

Donate gently used clothes through April 5 at any of the eight Crescent State Bank locations in Wake County (find them at www.crescentstatebank.com) or any Dress Barn location, including stores at Prime Outlets in Morrisville, Northgate Mall in Durham and Garner Towne Square.

Find out more about how you can help at www.dressforsuccess.org/trianglenc.

Who doesn't need some TLC?

The area's pampering business is getting a little bit more all-inclusive.

Douglas Carroll Salon at Raleigh's Sutton Square is now set up to treat pre- or post- treatment cancer patients.

The salon's spa director, Norma Divine, recently put the final touches on a private room in the expanded salon. The area is designed for private makeup lessons and hair consultations as part of the salon's Healing Hands program to support cancer patients.

With the added privacy, clients can go in for a wig fitting or try out one of the salon's spa chemical-free treatments, designed with cancer patients' needs in mind.

Then over in Cary, a new spa will open by the middle of next week targeting parents and babies.

The Itsy Bitsy Baby Spa in Preston Walk will cater to moms and dads, starting from early pregnancy, and their babies and toddlers with programs to promote what spa owner Keren BenMoshe calls "healthy parenting" and "happy babies."

Programs at the spa are designed to help parents throughout all aspects of early parenting, with classes on baby massage, nutrition and prenatal breast-feeding. Parents and baby also can take a belly dance or yoga class or learn baby sign language together.

"It's all about reducing stress," says BenMoshe, who is a mother of two. "This will be a very calming, soothing, warm environment."