“The foundation of everything we do is to ensure families receive the basics in life.” This is only part of the vision that Women Giving Back, a supportive organization based in Sterling, Virginia, holds as they serve women and children in crisis as a first step to stability. From humble beginnings, this organization has gone on to bless countless women, children, and families in need in the Washington Metro area. None of this would have been possible if it weren’t for three women in 2007…

Terri Stagi, Leslie Strittmatter, and Fiona Hughes were all working in the homebuilder industry when they learned about the many obstacles women and children in shelters face because of a lack of funds for appropriate clothing. They put their heads together and began as a program under HomeAid Northern Virgina where they operated out of a small closet in the Northern Virginia Builder Association, distributing high quality clothing to women in need. Their program only grew, and in 2011 they moved the organization, now called “Women Giving Back” to their current location in Sterling, Virginia. The founder’s goal was to develop a culture of women helping women, by providing a warm, uplifting space where women could shop for the clothes they needed, whether it was for a job interview, or maternity, free of financial restraints. Today, Women Giving Back has expanded its services to giving out diapers for children and even now having a boutique for juniors and seniors to take part in, filled with dresses and much needed accessories such as shoes, and jewelry. They serve over 25,000 women and children a year, have practically 5,000 volunteers, and also have 1,300 referral partners in the Greater Washington Metro area.

One of the many new programs Women Giving Back can boast of is Military Shopping Day, where twice a year, once during the month of the military child (April) and the second, during Veterans and Military Families Month (November) they open their doors to military families to shop for clothes at no cost. Their next shopping day is November 7^th of this year, so be sure to add that to your calendar!

As one who has personally benefited, along with my family, from the support Women Giving Back provides, I can say that the impact does not just come from the clothes. It comes from the volunteers that joyfully help the women and children who oftentimes wearily attend these shopping days, it’s the connection that is made through shopping with other military women and children. The experience is ten-fold, and it is one I hope many military families will be able to experience.

A small outreach that started 17 years ago has gone on to bless countless women, children, and families in need. If it had not been for three women who saw a problem and worked to fix it, we wouldn’t have the amazing organization that exists today. This organizations story, like many others is a reminder of the enormous impact that can be made, if only a few people work to make the first step.