Have you ever coveted your co-worker's wardrobe? If so, consider hosting a Clean Closet, Good Karma Workplace Clothes Collection. If you've got stylish colleagues, here's what you need to know to organize a successful workplace Clothes Collection.

• Let the Burlington Clothes Exchange know about your interest in organizing a Workplace drive by emailing us at info@theclothesexchange.org.
• Be sure to secure approval form your boss or HR department to conduct a collection.
• Involve your HR department or others who can help you get the word out and spur participation.
• Set the date for your clothes drive. Workplace drives can happen any time, although we think February, March and April are ideal.
• We suggest collecting for 2 to 3 days, to give folks a chance to participate.
• Be sure to determine the location for collecting and storing the donations. You can collect at your desk, in the lobby or lunch room.
• Consider offer donors a small thank you gift like a piece of chocolate, a coupon for lunch, or entrance into a raffle. Maybe your company will donate a raffle prize!
• Promote your drive. About two weeks before your drive, email your colleagues (see sample email below) to promote your efforts, educate them about The Clothes Exchange and our beneficiary. Hang Clothes Collection posters in your breakroom and other places where your colleagues will see them. If you have a company newsletter, be sure to promote your efforts there as well.
  
• Send a reminder email two days before your collection efforts begin.
  
• Collect!
• Be sure to thank all donors and be prepared to answer questions they may have about The Clothes Exchange and our beneficiary.
• Be sure to have Clothes Exchange event infomation, Clean Closet, Good Karma stickers and receipts available. Contact info@theclothesexchange.org to request stickers and event promotional materials.
  
• If you've got an eye for fashion and a good sense of what we want, feel free to sort through the goods you collect and pass only the cream of the crop on to us. If you choose not to sort, no worries, our team of talented sorters will take of it.If you do sort, be sure not to sort in front of donors.
• Deliver the clothes or make arrangements for a pick-up by contacting us at info@theclothesexchange.org.
• Send a thank you and update to your colleagues.

Sample Email for Workplace Clothes Collection

To my well dressed colleagues-

I know you all probably have a few items in your closet that you once loved but never wear. I know I do! I am hosting a Clean Closet, Good Karma™ clothes drive and will be collecting gently worn, stylish clothing on behalf of the Burlington Clothes Exchange and their 2010 Beneficiary, King Street Center. King Street Center is a nonprofit providing essential services and support to Burlington children, youth and families.

You can help by cleaning out your closet and bringing me those fabulous clothes and accessories you just never wear, but you know someone else will love.  By donating your clothes you are helping to make a difference to women and families in our community and doing your part to recycle and help spare the landfills of perfectly good clothing.

I’ll be accepting gently worn, stylish women’s clothing and accessories. No shoes please! We are interested in quality items, so please limit your donations to 10 fabulous items. For a full list of what we want and don’t want, visit http://www.theclothesexchange.org/faqs/

Please bring your donations to [my office] during [business hours] from [October 1 – 15]. All donors will be entered into a raffle to win a massage! If you have any questions, please let me know. On behalf of The Clothes Exchange and King Street Center, thanks for your support.

[your name]

PS If you haven’t been to a Clothes Exchange event don’t miss this year’s. It’s my favorite fundraising event; you help raise money for local nonprofits by shopping! This year’s event, on May 20th at The Double Tree Hotel in S. Burlington. For more information visit www.theclothesexchange.org/vt