By Caleb Callaway | Let’s be honest: college isn’t cheap.
To start there is tuition, meal plan, room and board, and class expenses, and then there are textbooks, organization fees, fundraisers, and regular living expenses.
On top of these inevitable expenses, students are regularly expected to dress professionally for church, job interviews, meetings, and a plethora of other events. However, quality professional attire is often expensive and too-highly priced for many college students.
Fortunately for Howard Payne students, the Yellow Jacket Clothes Closet seeks to address this dilemma.
The Yellow Jacket Clothes Closet (JYCC) is an on-campus ministry founded by Mrs. Melinda Hines that provides free professional attire to HPU students. According to HPU Women’s Club President Mrs. Hines, “[The JYCC] began as a Women’s Club service opportunity and has become a joint service opportunity with Student Life, as they will make it available to students as needed.”
For Hines, this is personal project, as she herself was in need of professional attire in college. Hines was moved to action when she heard of an HPU student in need of professional apparel for a job, which was provided to her by professors and fellow students. As a result, the YJCC was created. Hines understands the necessity for professional apparel, and states, “If we have so much that we can share, that’s what we need to do.”
While it originally only served female students, the YJCC now also offers clothing for men. The YJCC offers quality clothing, shoes, and even accessories.
The YJCC is truly a blessing for HPU students. Ryan McCord, a Bible major and attendee to the last YJCC event, states, “I really appreciated Mrs. Hines and the Women’s Club for working so hard to put the event on for students. I love that Howard Payne provides opportunities for students in every way that they can, including providing business clothes for interviews and job opportunities.”
The YJCC hosts an event once a semester, with this semester’s event taking place on Sunday, February 16th. The YJCC event will go from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and will take place in Jennings Hall Pod D (across from Health Services). All students are invited to attend
Additionally, professional attire from the YJCC will be provided to students as needed throughout the semester. If a student is in need of professional clothing during the semester, they can contact the Student Life office.