First lady of IU Laurie Burns McRobbie, the keynote speaker at the gala, said the shop provides something beyond clothes.
“There’s a Chinese saying, ‘Women hold up half the sky,’” she said. “Organizations like My Sister’s Closet bring us together and hold us accountable so that we as a collective group are holding up at least our half.”
My Sister’s Closet is a boutique that caters to women from all backgrounds.
According to its website, sisterscloset.org, the nonprofit organization offers free professional attire and Success Institute training to low-income or at-risk women.
The gala began with cocktails and a silent auction in the Solarium. Items auctioned off included gift certificates from Baked! of Bloomington, Taste of Brown County and Yogi’s Grill & Bar. Aveda and Sew Chateau Fashion Sewing School provided some of the gift packages for the auction, as well.
Two sandboxes sat next to the silent auction tables, and attendees were encouraged to make a $10 donation to participate in “Buried Treasure.” Participants were allowed one shovelful of sand as an attempt to find marbles hidden within it, which they would return to draw a number that corresponded with a prize.
Junior Emily Young said the primary goal of the gala was to raise funds and awareness for My Sister’s Closet.
As a student in the School of Public Health’s T410: Event Planning and Program Development class, she said her team of six students worked all semester on the event.
Young said her team elected My Sister’s Closet because of the effect it has.
“They’ve done so much to help out women within the Bloomington community,” she said. “We just want to celebrate that and celebrate them.”
Junior Dominic Vernasco, another event planner on the team, said it was important to continue the mission of My Sister’s Closet and especially to promote it on IU’s campus.
“We are usually stuck in our campus bubble,” Vernasco said.
Being involved with the gala presents a new perspective on and awareness of the opportunities to give back to the greater community ?beyond IU, he said.
Alana Luttrell is a featured advocate at the gala. Now a coach for women entering the workforce, Luttrell said she was once a recipient of My Sister’s Closet’s services.
Luttrell said five years ago she was homeless and addicted to drugs. Part of her recovery process, she said, was to get a job.
She said My Sister’s Closet made that possible.
“My Sister’s Closet gave me the clothes for my first job interview, which I got,” Luttrell said. “There are very, very few places that a person can go to get material support that is quality for an interview.”
In her work as a coach for the women she used to be like, Luttrell said they owe many of their successes to My Sister’s Closet and their voucher program.
“It’s the one place that somebody can buy something that makes you feel beautiful at a great price,” ?she said.
