A program focused on enabling women throughout the Lehigh Valley to put their best foot forward in career and job opportunities has recently celebrated a milestone anniversary.
The Perfect Fit is celebrating its 25th year in service to women this year, and YWCA Allentown Executive Director Sarah Barrett says the longevity is a testament to the power of collaboration and community volunteerism.
“The core of this program is community collaboration,” Barrett said in an interview. “When we started, it was an all-volunteer program, and we still rely on that help to do everything we do.”
The Allentown YWCA is one of five organizations that launched the program in 2000, joining the Junior League of the Lehigh Valley, Lehigh County, the Jewish Community Center, and the American Association of University Women in providing time, money, logistical planning, and volunteer support.
The Perfect Fit began as a way to connect women with the clothing they needed to feel confident in professional settings and job interviews. Over time, the program has grown to include a variety of skills development, counseling, and wraparound services aimed at lifting up Lehigh Valley families through well-paying employment for women.
Impact at a Glance:
- 13,000+ women served since launch
- 800+ local residents expected to benefit in 2025
- 40% growth in program participation over the past two years
- 75%+ of participants improve their employment outcomes
- $5 wardrobe support for employed clients through the boutique
Barett says the goal of all involved in the program has always been to evolve and adapt to the community’s needs, noting The Perfect Fit has grown far beyond the free clothing it began with. Now, professional development opportunities such as technical certification programs, career counseling, childcare support, and other general life support opportunities provide women with not just any work, but the chance to build a family-sustaining career.
“We make sure folks have what they need to be successful,” Barrett said. “Offering training and certification is great, but it’s impossible to study if you’re worried about rent or can’t find reliable childcare. We want to ensure women have everything they need to make the most of the opportunity.”
Case managers work with women enrolled in the program during their job search and stay with them once they find a job, ensuring they have the information necessary to do everything from establishing retirement plans to feeling comfortable in a new workplace.
Over the last two decades, the program has witnessed significant changes, including the impact of COVID-19 on women’s job search patterns, which has led to a recent focus on hybrid and remote tech jobs that many find compatible with the demands of child or elder care that women often face.
“In 2020, we just realized what we were doing wasn’t meeting the current moment,” said Barrett. “What we saw really come out of that was a lot of women losing their jobs and realizing they didn’t want to be in a scenario that unsure again. We worked with Google’s nonprofit arm and the national YWCA organization to build the tech career program because we saw demand for an opportunity like that in the area.”
Ultimately, Barett says she and the others involved in managing The Perfect Fit hope to continue for another 25 years and beyond. To do that, community involvement will remain crucial.
Volunteers help with both sorting clothing and running the Perfect Fit Resale Boutique, which opened in 2017 at 26 N 6th Street on the Allentown Arts Walk. The boutique offers an affordable shopping experience for women looking for a variety of clothing and accessories. The program also takes financial donations to support service and program offerings.
Barett also encourages community members to follow The Perfect Fit on social media to stay up to date on additional opportunities to support women in the area.
“I’d love to work myself out of a job and see everyone in our area have meaningful employment and everything they could possibly need. Short of that, though, my goal is that we’ll always adapt and grow to support the demand and needs of our community by creating solutions to problems,” Barrett said.
