A local businesswoman is holding her second Dress for Success clothing drive to collect clothing for disadvantaged women looking for a job.

“There’s women out there who are disadvantaged, and they don’t just look for a handout, they look for a way to improve themselves,” said Margie Wiley, an Edward Jones financial advisor. “I’m a huge supporter of that.”

Wiley is holding the clothing drive to support the Dress for Success program, which teaches women how to interview, write resumes, write professional emails and so on.

Through completing the various steps of the program, the women earn clothes to use when they get hired into the business world.

Women are referred to Dress for Success through a range of nonprofit organizations.

Wiley’s first clothing drive last year collected 300 or 400 items of clothing, she said.

She is encouraging other professional women to clean out their closets in preparation for winter and to donate the clothes they no longer need.

“They don’t have to be laundered,” Wiley said. “We actually have a cleaner that takes care of that for us.”

Shoes, purses and other accessories are encouraged, along with clothes such as suits, dresses, slacks and more. Wiley asked for items only, as she will be unable to accept monetary donations at her office.

Donations to the drive will benefit women in Suffolk, she said.

Donations can be dropped off at Wiley’s office at 3005 Corporate Lane, Suite 300, off Godwin Boulevard, during normal business hours.

Call Wiley at 539-5800 for more information on the clothing drive.

For more information on how to get help through the program, call 961-7148 or visit hamptonroads.dressforsuccess.org.