Healing Broken Vessels hosting its 17th annual fashion show fundraiser titled Garment of Grace to support programs and services for women in need.
Model Coordinator Tosha Obajowo said the event is a faith and fashion experience designed to combine style and spirit with community confidence. Obajowo said the organization was founded by Pastor Dr. Diantha McLeod to provide a mission of support that has continued for nearly two decades.
“Garments of Grace was chosen just for the diversity of the women,” Obajowo said. “Pastor McLeod has always had a passion for supporting women and I think just the Garment of Grace just kind of covers a multitude of why God covers us.”
Obajowo said the organization facilitates a six-week program focused on strengthening workforce skills and healthy life management. Obajowo said the nonprofit relies heavily on the support of local donors, volunteers, and churches to maintain its daily operations.
“What I hope people will take away from this event is that we need individuals to come back together as a community to uplift, encourage, support, and motivate one another,” Obajowo said. “And that is what Pastor started from 2008, that was her mission, for a community just to come together to help one another. So I’m hoping that with this fashion show or this conference we will go back to that mission, to motivate, educate, and empower all women.”
Obajowo said the services provided include career development, financial training, and housing assistance to help women overcome barriers. Obajowo said the organization also offers wellness fitness classes and vocational training to ensure the community remains engaging and safe.
“By giving them a wrap-around service, and for me, I work in mental health and, especially in addiction and counseling with women and children, and that was one thing that motivated me to become a part of the Healing Broken Vessels, is just that making sure that when we give these women these services that they are able to be self-sufficient, independent on themselves,” Obajowo said. “And to know that again there is a community out there that understands for some people that’s in low socio-economical areas that there is help and that they have not been put to the sideline. That they can overcome any obstacle or any barriers that have been placed in front of them and that they can move forward with the right training, the right support, and that is what Healing Broken Vessels is here for.”
Obajowo said women who receive support often return to the community to advocate for others or enter the mental health field themselves. Obajowo said the organization assists with resume building and mock interviews to set women up for success regardless of their backgrounds.
“I have seen women become self-sufficient, able to hold a job even if they have maybe a sketchy background,” Obajowo said. “We help them get over that background, maybe go through expungement classes, teach them resume, how to build a resume, how to do mock interviews to set them up again for success. And a lot of the women will come back and they’ll get into the mental health field or just advocating for other women. So once they’ve learned the skills that they need to become self-sufficient and independent, then they are able to bring those services and those skills that they learned back into the community so that they can help another woman, kind of like you planting that seed. Once that seed is planted in them, then they’re able to take what they’ve learned and give it to someone else, just plant it forward.”
Obajowo said the event will feature guest speaker Anise Bates, who serves as an advocate for women’s health.
“I just hope that people just walk away just feeling inspired, see and just be reminded of their worth,” Obajowo said. “And that Garment of Grace will communicate that hardships do not define our future and that restoration and wholeness is possible.”
The fundraiser will take place Saturday, August 29, 2026, at Cookeville First United Methodist Church.
