Suits 4 Success drive aims to help clothe recently released prisoners
The fourth-annual Suits 4 Success clothing drive will take place from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, July 11, at Kilwin’s Ice Cream Parlor, 107 E. Liberty St. in Ann Arbor.
Suits 4 Success looks to provide people being released from prison with suits and other professional clothing to interview for jobs. Local defense attorney Steve Tramontin said prisoners who are being released have a significant need.
“We accept clothing of any sort,” Tramontin said. “We focus on professional clothing but will take anything, work boots, anything that can be a resource for people trying to make changes and get a fresh start.”
Suits 4 Success works in conjunction with the Washtenaw Prisoner Reentry Initiative.
Mary King, the director of WPRI, said monetary donations also are accepted. One of the main areas of need are big and tall sizes, and money can often help purchase those sizes.
“The prison system is always challenged to feed people on very few dollars per day,” she said. “People gain a lot of weight and come out bigger than when they went in.”
For more information on the event, call 734-834-6706.
Kyle Feldscher covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
ezbngreen
Tue, Jul 9, 2013 : 8:59 p.m.
While I understand the need for help; I am left wondering why Wastenaw County has the highest recidivism rate in the state. What sort of success rate does MPRI have in Washtenaw County Vs. the rest of the state? If I remember correctly Washtenaw Co. receives close to a million dollars for about 300 parolees. Please enlighten me... Are we being fiscally responsible?
Keith Hafner
Tue, Jul 9, 2013 : 8:01 p.m.
Excellent idea!
mabb
Tue, Jul 9, 2013 : 6:27 p.m.
If you can't find the right fit at Suits 4 Success try the Ann Arbor Thrift Shop across from Arborland
snapshot
Tue, Jul 9, 2013 : 4:55 p.m.
It's too bad that our legislators have set up so many road blocks for these convicted felons who have served their time and paid their dues. Many are recovered addicts. Their employment options are severely limited. No medical type curriculum will admit them for training. Other fields, trucking, IT, education, are also off limits etc. etc. Their future is severely stunted which is why their are so many repeat offenders. The cards are stacked against them, is it any wonder many stop playing the game? Yet, we still consider enforcement and incarceration the answer.
jns131
Wed, Jul 10, 2013 : 9:06 p.m.
Didn't they say it takes about 3 years to get a decent job like say Krogers or something? I do know that for those convicted of perp offenses may never get a job because children are everywhere and they cannot be near them. Sad to think about this but true.
KMHall
Tue, Jul 9, 2013 : 6:40 p.m.
It takes a lot of resources to get many of these individuals back to a productive life. We have a better chance (and save money and suffering) by offering help during early childhood with guaranteed health care and good child care options for disadvantaged families.
Cash
Tue, Jul 9, 2013 : 2:05 p.m.
This sounds like a wonderful program. Thank you for making us aware of it.