The mission of Dress for Success Luzerne County is to empower women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, career appropriate attire and the development tools a woman needs to thrive in work and in life. But you can’t thrive in work or life if you are in jail or have no clothes and even less self-worth.

While moonlighting as a Certified Recovery Specialist at New Roots – located next door to Luzerne County Correctional Facility, Linda met Rosie. Rosie was what the system calls a “frequent flyer”. Her substance use disorder and her mental health issues opened the revolving door for Rosie to be in and out of jail on a regular basis. Without positive and healthy supportive services and contacts on the outside, Rosie was caught in a circle

of failure.

It was a cold NEPA winter day when Rosie walked into New Roots wearing shorts, a tank top and broken flip flops. Rosie was arrested in July and was released in January. Upon her arrest, Rosie’s “friends” picked through her meager belongings taking what they wanted. Soon after, her landlord put the remainder of her belongings in a dumpster and rented Rosie’s room to someone else.

Linda and another CRS took Rosie by the hand and began providing the services they could. First, Rosie needed warm and clean clothing. Dress for Success Luzerne County was just the place for that. Rosie received a small suitcase filled with clothing, including undergarments and pajamas and personal care items as well as cosmetics. Rosie began feeling like a person again. Of course, Rosie needed a meal, so using a gift card Dress for

Success Luzerne County had for Subway, Rosie was fed and began feeling better. Next stop was getting her valid identification. Using Dress for Success funds, Rosie got a copy of her driver’s license and became human again. This all happened while the CRSs were getting Rosie a bed in a Drug Rehab. A hot cup of coffee shared by the 3 women on the way to White Deer Run in Allenwood, Pennsylvania made Rosie feel important and cared for. After all she had been through – she needed support.

Serving this population is neither easy nor for everyone. Where the world sees disposable people, Dress for Success Luzerne County sees a woman needing a supportive sister.

Successful reentry begins on the inside – inside the correctional facility. By becoming acquainted with the women during their incarceration women in need of services are more comfortable asking for help from Dress for Success Luzerne County. The organization accepts collect calls from the jail and referrals from the Councilors.

We listen to the needs of our women and fill them as possible. We meet them where they need us.

Linda conducts life skills workshops in the jail on Saturdays. In several of her “Saturdays for Success” sessions, the women requested books – to read – for pleasure – to distract them from their bleak surroundings. Dress for Success Luzerne County purchased $2,000 worth of books and then collaborated with Leadership Northeast to bring in an additional 3,600. The organizations believe these books will begin a much-needed adult literacy

program in the jail.

Linda Loop knows that society makes demands on ex-offenders – many of those requirements are tied to their freedom. We then put obstacles and barriers in their way almost daring them to not reoffend. Without supporting their release, they are bound to go to the security of the life and people that got them in trouble to begin with.



We need to stop assigning middle-class solutions on a problem most middle-class people don’t understand.