FAQs
Questions can be submitted to info@wrcmanatee.org
Table of Contents
- What does the WRC do to help women find jobs?
- Who uses the Career Closet?
- How can I help?
- What's it like being a volunteer?
- Is Mental Health Counseling For Me?
- Tell me about support groups
- Why did the WRC open a resale shop?
- How can I motivate my friend to come to the WRC?
Providing opportunities to meet the employment goals of women is part of our mission. You may be interested to know that women of all ages, circumstances and education levels come to the Center. Our programs accommodate their diverse needs. Perhaps a story would best illustrate what we do.
Betsy, in her mid-fifties, is new to the community, and she has left a corporate job in the north. She needs to work to support herself but wants to make a career change. She pays a visit to the Women's Resource Center and discovers Employment Strategies where she can have a one-hour consultation with an employment specialist to fine tune her resume and explore employment options. Employment Strategies also reveals to Betsy that she needs to learn some computer skills so she signs up for the Introduction to Word class.
Meanwhile, all this job hunting and dealing with the move has left Betsy overwhelmed and discouraged. She makes an appointment for Mental Health Counseling and is encouraged to join the Self Esteem support group to work on her self-esteem. Betsy also can investigate the Community Resources suggested by the Center staff and network at the Quarterly Women's Exchange .
Betsy's young niece, Ellen, lives in Bradenton and she has been busy at home with young children. Ellen comes to the Center and uses the Job Book to find a part-time job and visits the Career Closet for clothes suitable for a job interview.
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Last summer the Women's Resource Center was privileged to have Carol Cason spearhead a renovation project for our closet housed in the garage. Through the generous donation of time and material from DeZiel Construction, Commercial Plastering, Ryan Ross, Goodson Electric, Wyman Plumbing, Creative Closets, Exclusive Floors and More and West Coast Distributors, we now have a bright, clean room that holds clothing, shoes and handbags for women in our community. The main purpose of the closet is to provide women with outfits for job interviews or the first week of a new job but the closet does much more.
Sometimes a woman needs an outfit for a court appearance, church or a funeral. Sometimes a woman has escaped an abusive relationship leaving her clothes behind or maybe it is a migrant worker with very little to begin with. We average 30-40 visits per month. Hours are Monday to Thursday 9–4.
To help these women we are especially looking for gently used scrubs, khaki & black pants and outfits suitable for a business office. More casual wear should be taken to the many worthy thrift shops in our area.
We could not keep the closet open without the help of our volunteers or the generous contributions of clothes. Thank you to all who make this program such a success.
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- Client Services: Answer the phone, greet visitors, explain our programs and make community referrals.
- Career Closet: Sort and hang donations. Tidy the closet space.
- Donations: The WRC always needs copy paper, paper towels, coffee and tissues.
- United Way: Payroll deductions can be designated to the WRC. Our payer code is 073033.
- Computer Instructors: Beginners class for clients with little or no computer experience. Two hours per week. Basic Excel for two 2-hour classes per month.
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When I tell people that I volunteer at the WRC, they always ask, “What do they do there? What is it like?” They are always impressed with what I say.
Like others, I had driven past the WRC on countless occasions, and I would often tell myself that I needed to stop in to find out more about it and what I could do to help. Finally, one determined day last October, I stopped in to donate some clothes for the Career Closet. From the moment I stepped into the building, I was struck by the warm and inviting atmosphere. Although I came at a busy time, with phones ringing and staff hurrying from room to room, a certain calmness permeated it all. I would later realize that this calm is what those who need assistance need the most. After I laid down my armful of clothes, I decided that I wanted to donate more than clothes. I wanted to donate my time.
If you call the WRC on Thursday mornings, I will most likely be the one to answer the phone. I also help out with other tasks, as they come up. But my primary duty is the desk, which is ironic since in my professional life, I have always hated phone work. This time, though, it's different and feels important. You feel like you're helping someone, albeit in the smallest of ways. Calling someone to remind her of her appointment or setting an appointment with a counselor is like helping someone take steps to improve her life. Referring someone to another agency for assistance also is helping.
While fielding the phone calls, you nearly always get a story, an explanation as to why the caller is calling. The stories are usually very brief and personal, (“Hi, I am newly divorced and I've never worked. Can you help me?” Or, “I was in an abusive relationship, but I got out of it and went back to school. I have a couple of job interviews lined up, and I need some clothes for them.”). Sometimes, you get a call from someone new to the area, someone who wants to connect with other women in our community. Or you get a call from someone who has been told that the WRC can refer her to another agency that can help them. It appears to me that the WRC is the starting point for many women. It's called a resource center with good reason.
Volunteering at the WRC doesn't only help the WRC; it also helps those who need it to improve their lives and move on. ~ Wilma Guerra
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Life has many twists and turns, some of our own making and others out of our control. As we maneuver through this obstacle course we are strengthened by a wide variety of resources that help us find joy and keep moving. Family, friends, faith, music, art, sports, and nature to name a few.
There are times in life when we neglect our resources or they seem scarce or depleted. Our finances, relationships, environment might all be strained. The weather, the news, our jobs might be the focus of our attention. Over time we find ourselves unable to feel happiness in activities that used to rejuvenate us. Sometimes we seem anxious all the time and have strong emotional reactions that surprise us. Sometimes we feel stuck.
It's time to revisit and nurture those resources. Mental health counseling is a resource that can help you reconnect with people, sort out priorities and find new pleasure in life. A counselor is trained to listen carefully, clarify chaos, nurture self-respect and cultivate problem solving.
At the WRC some women use the mental health services once or twice, others may come for ten sessions and others may be referred to other resources. All our counselors have Masters degrees and extensive experience dealing with many types of issues. All services are confidential.
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Last week I had the pleasure of leading the Tuesday night self-esteem group called ‘Women in Transition'. I asked this group why they gathered regularly to discuss their concerns. First off they praised the setting that made them feel comfortable and safe. Next they commented on how important it was to be heard and to hear that others were dealing with similar issues. Group members are quick to encourage each other and welcome new members. They take seriously the rules of confidentiality and respectful listening. I know I felt better being in that room. A virtual group hug!
“The circle has no beginning and no end. When one sits in a circle with others, everyone is equal & linked. There is shared power” ~Maureen Murdock
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There are lots of good things about a well run resale shop like recycling, bargains and hidden treasures, but the bottom line for us is our ‘bottom line'. As we grow and become busier we need to look at ways to generate more income so we can continue to offer our excellent services to women for reasonable or no cost.
In October of 2005 Restyled Rags – the Unique Boutique was born under the careful & creative management of Cheri Downie. The ideal location is in Jennings Arcade on Old Main ( 12 th St W ) between Fav's Italian Cucina and Bellisima! Coffee and Tea.
Not only does this shop provide funding for WRC, it has become a gathering place for women especially on Girls Night Out (the last Thursday of every month). The variety and quality of merchandise has made this a great destination for an outing. Shoes, bags, jewelry and clothes in all sizes are artfully displayed making shopping a pleasure.
Jo Anne Walsh and Coleen Collins assisted by volunteer Marian Soudijn, keep the shop in tip top shape. Thank you ladies for your help.
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Asking for assistance is a difficult step complicated by first recognizing there is a problem followed by believing you deserve to get some help and that it is not a sign of failure to have challenges.
Getting to that point of ‘being ready' is key. One client summed it up by saying she was finally at a point where the pain of being stuck was worse than the thought of seeking change.
Sometimes we simply feel overwhelmed and don't know where to start. Let your friend know when you have felt vulnerable and reached out. Share your story, bring her information but never give advice. Offer to drive, watch her kids or make dinner but empower her by assuming she can handle the decision when she is ready.
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