Host’s service team and our employees recently turned generosity into action through a professional clothing drive and on-site volunteer event in partnership with A Wider Circle, a nonprofit organization serving individuals and families across the Washington, D.C. region as they work toward stability and self-sufficiency.

Professional Clothing Drive

Throughout January and February, our service team organized a professional clothing and accessories drive to support A Wider Circle’s Professional Development program, which provides jobseekers with professional attire free of charge. At the organization’s Silver Spring center, clients work one-on-one with a personal shopper to select complete outfits, helping them prepare for interviews and the workplace with dignity and confidence.

Thanks to the generosity of employees, more than 400 items were donated, including men’s and women’s suits and blazers, ties, scarves, and many additional professional clothing items and accessories.

To further support the organization’s most urgent needs, the service team also purchased and donated hundreds of new pairs of dress socks, boxers, belts, dress shoes, purses, and costume jewelry—resulting in over 1,000 total items donated.

Together, these donations will directly help jobseekers visiting A Wider Circle’s Professional Development Center dress for success.

A Day of Hands-On Impact

Following the clothing drive, employee volunteers visited A Wider Circle’s warehouse in Silver Spring, MD, where they were divided into teams to support a variety of critical operational needs. Throughout the day, volunteers:

• Sorted, measured and tagged donated clothing
• Helped unload donation trucks
• Rolled out, measured and cleaned donated carpets to prepare them for distribution
• Built furniture, including desks, chairs and more
• Re-stocked and organized storefront
• Designed and decorated a child's bedroom display in the showroom, thoughtfully arranging furniture and decor to create a welcoming space for a family in need

The hands-on work allowed volunteers to support not only the Professional Development Program, but also A Wider Circle’s broader work of providing essential home goods to families transitioning out of homelessness or economic hardship. 

“Thank you to the entire Host team for the incredible time, energy, and heart you shared with us… the team jumped in with enthusiasm and care at every step. On top of that, your generous donation of hundreds of items of clothing and accessories will have a direct and lasting impact on the jobseekers who visit our clothing boutique. What stood out most was not just how much your team accomplished, but the spirit in which you did it. The compassion, teamwork, and attention to detail your volunteers brought to the day perfectly reflect the values we strive to uphold." – Janet Dailey, Director, In-Kind Donations, A Wider Circle 

From closet cleanouts to warehouse teamwork, together we helped our neighbors move forward with dignity and hope, reinforcing Host’s ongoing commitment to strengthening the communities where we live and work. 

Learn more about Host’s Corporate Responsibility program and our commitment to our corporate citizenship.