Battered Women Receive New Clothes, Self-Esteem : Charity: Church helps more than 100 victims of spousal abuse from eight shelters. Each gets five outfits to help her re-enter work force.

Gerry, who recently spent 90 days in a shelter for battered women, went on an unusual shopping spree here Saturday.

“I am going to be walking out with two bags of clothing that actually fit me,” said the divorced mother of three, standing amid racks of high-quality used garments set up in a local church. “I feel important.”

During the three-hour spree, Gerry, who now lives in a cheap apartment in Orange and describes herself as “almost homeless” because she can hardly pay the rent, didn’t have to pull out a credit card or write a single check for the goods.

That’s because Our Lady Queen of Angels Church was having its annual Working Wardrobes for a New Start, an event that outfitted more than 100 victims of domestic violence from eight county shelters.

Each woman combed through the racks and picked out five sets of clothes, one for each day of the workweek.

“This is for women who are living in shelters and almost . . . ready to go out into the working world,” said Bonnie MacDonald, who helped organize the event that is designed to boost the appearance and confidence of the abused women. “These women will look different inside and out. This is all for their self-esteem.”

In addition to receiving blouses, suits, purses and shoes, the women also got free make-overs and haircuts from professional hairstylists and fashion consultants.

To further help the women gain control of their lives, event organizers also provided job counseling, day care and shuttle rides between the church and the local shelters where many are staying to avoid abusive spouses.

At the beginning and end of what, for many women, was an emotional day, they had their pictures taken so that they could compare the difference.

“What we do for them is give them hope,” said Sheryl Dolley, one of the volunteers who said she was abused by her former husband for nearly 11 years.

“It is a silent shame,” she said. “When a battered women finally leaves, she leaves with the clothes on her back and her children.”

Most of the women Saturday declined to talk about their suffering. Those who did requested anonymity because they fear being stalked by their husband or boyfriend.

Jerri Rosen, who help start the first Working Wardrobes event three years ago, is amazed at how the event has grown.

“One thing we learned is that people really want to give,” she said, adding that it indicates how domestic violence touches many people’s lives, directly and indirectly.

There will be a rummage sale today at the church of the remaining clothes to raise money for next year’s effort, said MacDonald.

Our Lady Queen of Angels Church is at 2046 Vista Mar in Newport Beach.