— SOMETIMES ALL IT TAKES IS NEW
Working Gear
Whether you’re looking for a suit and tie or a hard hat and boots, we’ve got you covered
Annual Fundraiser
Working Gear’s annual fundraiser is back – help us reach our $35,000 goal!
GIVE TODAY and immediately double your impact – a generous donor has offered to match every dollar raised up to $10,000! For every dollar you donate, we will get $2.
At Working Gear, we offer a hand up, not a hand out. We provide workwear, safety gear and haircuts free of charge to help low-income and unemployed individuals transition back into the workforce. As Canada’s Fastest Growing Small Charity (yes, really), demand for our services has skyrocketed, and we risk running out of essential items. This year alone, we have helped over 1,800 individuals – that’s up 44% from last year.
With your donation, we can continue to supply those in need with the gear – and the confidence – to get back on the job site. 96% of all financial donations go directly to program delivery.
To make a donation, please visit our donation page. None of this work is possible without our huge community of supporters!
Kind Regards,
Sarah Beley
Director, Working Gear
Working Gear would like to welcome our new Operations Manager
Austin Schmidt
Austin is the Operations Manager at Working Gear, joining the team in early 2024. This role allows Austin to merge a passion for community support with a background in business management.
In Austin’s career to this point, he has been committed to crafting customized and accessible supports for those facing barriers to employment opportunities, with the goal of reducing poverty in his community. Since 2019 Austin has been actively engaged with various non-profits and social enterprises in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. This journey has been a continuous learning experience, providing valuable insights into effective strategies for community support.
In Austin’s role as Operations Manager at Working Gear, the primary focus revolves around the day-to-day management of the shop. This includes coordination with the volunteer team and referral agencies, managing shipping and receiving and ensuring the efficient delivery of services to those in need. Austin takes pride in fostering strong partnerships with community organizations, together aiming to improve the living conditions of the Downtown Eastside Community residents.
Dedicated to making a positive impact, Austin is continually learning how best to serve the unique needs of the Downtown Eastside community. Alongside the remarkable staff and volunteer team at Working Gear, there is excitement about the possibilities and strides that can be taken to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for all those we aim to assist.
Austin can be reached at austinschmidt@workinggear.ca
About Us
Working Gear is a volunteer-run charity located in the Downtown Eastside neighbourhood of Vancouver, BC. We have had the privilege of serving our clients since 2007.
We rely on the generous support of individuals, businesses, and organizations to provide industry-appropriate clothing and haircutting services to individuals experiencing unemployment or underemployment.
MAILING ADDRESS
For Regular Mail Only – No Clothing Donations
PO Box 88495
Chinatown RPO
Vancouver, BC
V6A 4A7
Working Gear operates on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territories of the xwməθkwəy̓ əm (Musqueam), the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səl̓ ilwətaɁɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples. As an organization, we are committed to supporting our Indigenous clients, community members and neighbours through our services, and we remain focused on embodying the principles of anti-racism and decolonization in all that we do.