by Working Gear | Nov 9, 2021
Thanks to the City of Vancouver’s Transit Shelter Advertising Program, commuters will be seeing the faces of Working Gear at transit shelters throughout the city now until December 5th. Some friendly Working Gear faces will also be featured on digital billboards downtown. That’s right, you’re going to be seeing a lot more of Working Gear around Vancouver and we couldn’t be more thrilled!
CONTEST ALERT!
To help celebrate this amazing opportunity to share our story far and wide across the city, we’re hosting an Instagram contest.
If you aren’t already, make sure you’re following us on Instagram @workinggear.
1st prize: $100 prepaid Visa gift card
2nd prize: $50 Cadeaux bakery gift card
To enter:
Make sure you’re following us, and tag a friend in the contest post who you think would love to learn more about Working Gear and our mission — the more people you tag, the more chances to win! It’s that simple.
BONUS: See one of our transit stop ads? Take a photo, share, and tag us — every photo is worth 5 entries!
CONTEST CLOSES November 22, 11:59PM PST
by Working Gear | Aug 31, 2021
Sarah Beley is Working Gear’s director and all-round super star. Sarah leads the organization, supported by a team of volunteers and Working Gear board members.
Earlier this year, Working Gear was showcased on CTV’s Holmes Family Effect, with Mike Holmes, his son Michael and daughter Sherry surprising Sarah and giving the shop an incredible transformation. We sat down with Sarah to find out what motivates her, how the show impacted Working Gear, and how the organization is continually evolving to the meet the needs of the community.
What brought you to Working Gear?
I started volunteering for Working Gear six years ago and soon realized there was a growing need for our services in the community. Feeling compelled to do more, I spent more time in the shop and ended up managing operations on a volunteer basis. At the start of 2021, I became Working Gear’s first employee, and am now able to do what I love full time.
People ask me what my motivation is: growing up in Alberta, I had a tough childhood. My father died when I was 9, my mother suffered from mental illness and my uncle disappeared in the DTES when I was a kid. My experiences gave me a unique lens into the trauma, pain, and helplessness of marginalized people in our society, and the negative impact this has on their mental health and economic prospects.
I’m one of the lucky ones. Thanks to the support of my extended family and the support of my local community, I ended up moving to Vancouver to study for a degree in Political Science at Simon Fraser University. I now feel a responsibility to advocate for people who weren’t so fortunate, and I’m able to do this through Working Gear.
Sarah eagerly awaiting the big reveal with volunteer Cal and the Holmes family
What was Working Gear like before the show?
Back in 2019, like many other volunteers, I had a full-time job, so this was like my side gig. We were trying our best to support our clients, but it often felt overwhelming.
Demand for gear was outstripping supply: many of the boots we had were used and sometimes had holes in them. This wasn’t what our clients deserved.
We didn’t have the right equipment to run an orderly shop: our computers were old and the lack of washing machines meant I was taking laundry home on the bus.
The shop itself felt claustrophobic and institutional. It had a terrible layout, poor lighting, and no changing rooms. Clients had to try on clothes in the bathroom! It was the opposite of the welcoming, supportive environment we were aiming for.
How did it feel to be on the show?
When I was surprised by the Holmes family, it felt incredible. The downtown eastside has negative connotations, and the people here are often forgotten about. To have someone notice what we were doing, and want to help us, made us feel validated.
Working Gear now looks like a retail store you’d expect downtown! The space is open, bright, and welcoming. Clothing is merchandised, we have changing rooms, washer dryers, a new computer and printer for clients to print resumes. We even have a barber shop complete with barber’s pole!
It feels wonderful to have a calm, safe and loving space for our clients (and for me!). We break all these molds by delivering a service that’s different. Nothing has changed with how we approach Working Gear, except now the look fits.
What keeps you energized?
I love working in the DTES, helping clients, and partnering with referral agencies and other organizations in the community. There’s a lot of innovation here and many cool people doing cool things. It’s inspiring and revitalizing and I love that Working Gear is part of this ecosystem.
We’re continually evolving what Working Gear is to the community. We recognized that a growing number of people were looking for construction type work and so now that is our focus. Over the past year, we’ve doubled the number of clients and expanded services to include all gender identities and added a barber service.
Importantly, we’ve created a deinstitutionalized, safe community space. These are people who’ve made a choice to change their lives for the better. We’re one of the first places they turn to for support and many are teetering on the edge. It’s our job to give our clients a positive experience, cheer them on, and help them move forward to a positive future.
by Working Gear | Feb 17, 2021
Non-profit Helping People Get a Fresh Start in the Workforce Receives a Facelift on CTV on Sunday, February 21st at 8pm PT/ET
Working Gear, a non-profit organization helping those seeking employment to find the clothing and gear they need for the job, is being featured on CTV’s Holmes Family Effect on Sunday, February 21st.
Holmes Family Effect follows TV icon and professional contractor Mike Holmes, his daughter Sherry, and son Michael, as they tackle their most important projects to date. Inspired by people who are making a difference in their communities, each episode sees the Holmes family surprise these deserving people by transforming their spaces.
In Sunday’s episode, Mike Holmes and his family surprise the Working Gear team at their Vancouver shop. With a mandate to relieve poverty, Working Gear provides office and industry clothing free of charge to help low income and unemployed individuals in the Lower Mainland find work. Working Gear’s team of volunteers, led by Director Sarah Beley, help clients find anything from construction clothing and steel-toed boots to business casual attire and suits.
“We’re so excited to be able to share our story and highlight the work we’re doing in the community,” said Sarah Beley. “Working Gear operates on a shoestring budget and we’ve had our fair share of struggles over the years. To have the Holmes family tell us they’re proud of the work we’re doing, and give us their support, was incredible. It was a truly unforgettable experience.”
The episode airs on Sunday, February 21st at 8pm on CTV. For more information on the show, visit: https://www.bellmedia.ca/the-lede/tv/ctv/holmes-family-effect/.
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Images
Episode Images: https://review.bellmedia.ca/view/43104806
Episode Promo Videos: https://review.bellmedia.ca/view/640387226
by Working Gear | Dec 23, 2020
As a former Working Gear client himself, our volunteer Michael understands better than anyone what our clients are going through.
Michael is from Nigeria, a country on the West Coast of Africa. Arriving on his own to Canada in spring 2019, he enrolled in a program at Douglas College that supports new immigrants as they transition into the Canadian workplace. When Michael was invited to his first interview in Vancouver, he had nothing smart to wear, and was referred to Working Gear by one of the program’s facilitators.
The team of Working Gear volunteers quickly helped Michael find two suits to wear and he left the shop feeling confident and prepared for his upcoming interview.
Hoping to bring the same positive experience to other clients, the very next week, Michael began volunteering at the shop. Each week, he helps clients navigate their way around and find appropriate clothing, so that they too can head into the working world with confidence and style.
“When I first came to Working Gear, I didn’t just get the suits that I needed, I got love from Sarah and the team. I immediately knew that I wanted to become a volunteer myself so that I can greet everyone with a big smile, just like how I was greeted my first time. I want to make every client believe that they matter and that someone loves them. It’s a fulfilling experience.”
Michael is one of the many Working Gear success stories. Shortly after his appointment, he got a job as an auditor at a hotel and is currently studying for his MBA. He considers his two Working Gear suits some of his most valuable assets and continues to wear them regularly.
The busiest season for charitable giving is upon us. With your support, Michael can continue to greet clients with a big smile and help them find the right clothing for the job. With your generosity, Working Gear can continue to break down barriers to employment that many individuals are currently facing.
Please mark your calendar and schedule time to make your yearend donations. We accomplished so much in 2020 and with your help can do even more in 2021.
If you’re interested in becoming a volunteer, contact Sarah Beley at info@workinggear.ca.
by Working Gear | Dec 23, 2020
Barb is not only one of Working Gear’s longest-serving volunteers— she also plays a huge role helping to run the shop in her role as Operations Manager.
Barb processes clothing donations, looks after merchandising and store aesthetic, trains volunteers and creates guidelines, such as the COVID-19 Health and Safety protocols—and that’s all alongside helping our clients. What doesn’t Barb do?!
Barb heard about Working Gear’s volunteer program in 2016 through her employers at WorkSafeBC. With more than a decade of retail experience under her belt, she felt that helping individuals to find the right interview and work appropriate clothing would be the perfect way to give back to the community.
“I feel a responsibility to go out there and make a difference. I could be one of these women; my son could be one of these young men. Working Gear is changing people’s lives for the better, I see that every day that I volunteer.”
Barb says it’s a privilege to be serving clients: “By helping people find clothing for work, we’re giving them a stepping-stone to future security. I’ve gotten to know many ex-clients over the years, and when they return to share the good news that they’ve found a job and are doing well, it warms my heart.”
Barb has seen Working Gear evolve over the years. The organization started out helping men find interview appropriate clothing, mostly for business or office type jobs.. But seeing the diversity of jobs our clients were applying for, Working Gear soon began to offer items like rain gear, boots and high-vis vests to meet the needs of individuals applying for manual labour positions.
Another important shift Working Gear has made over the years – we no longer just support men. Working Gear gladly welcomes and supports all gender expressions. And most recently, we started offering haircut services to help people look and feel more confident.
With all the changes, Barb remains as passionate about Working Gear as she did four years ago. “On certain days, I’m dragging. But every time I walk into the shop, I get a real boost and I come to life.”
Working Gear needs your support so that volunteers like Barb can continue to make sure the shop floor is stocked and ready to serve our clients. By making a donation, Working Gear can continue to break down barriers to employment by ensuring our clients are equipped to reintegrate into the work force.
If you’re interested in becoming a volunteer, contact Sarah Beley at info@workinggear.ca.
by Working Gear | Dec 11, 2020
Working Gear volunteer, S^yowah (Timothy James Elijah)
Working Gear is run almost entirely by a team of generous-hearted volunteers. Individually and together, they make a big contribution to the organization and to the lives of Working Gear’s clients.
One of Working Gear’s newest volunteers is S^yowah (Timothy James Elijah), founder and director of Buffalo Heart Medicine Healing Society. He is Onyota’a:ká from the Oneida of the Thames First Nation from a specific Bear Clan Family.
Working Gear recently donated items to All My Relations, a program S^yowah is involved with that helps Indigenous people living with addiction. Seeing the positive work that Working Gear does in his community – and already familiar with the organization in his previous role as a career development practitioner – S^yowah wanted to give back by joining Working Gear’s volunteer program.
S^yowah works directly with clients, or as he likes to call them, participants, to help them find the clothing they need for their future employment. But to him, the volunteer position is about more than just finding the right fitting shirt or boots – he also wants to make sure participants leave with a renewed sense of purpose and self-worth.
“It takes a lot of courage to say I need help,” says S^yowah. “When participants walk through our doors, they are often nervous and unsure. I see my role not simply as providing them with clothing, but to help them realise that they have a right to be here and that they deserve to have a bright future in the working world.”
Despite how many volunteer shifts he works, S^yowah is always amazed at the change he sees in the participants. “I see them transform in just 20 minutes and leave with a smile and the confidence to go and get the job,“ he explains. “That’s what Working Gear is all about and that’s why I keep coming back.”
Working Gear needs your support so volunteers like S^yowah can continue to lend a helping hand. Your donation will help ensure the shelves at Working Gear are stocked and ready for our clients so we can continue to break down barriers to employment.
Are you inspired by S^yowah’s story? Contact Sarah Beley at info@workinggear.ca to learn about our volunteer program.
The All My Relations team (S^yowah far right)
by Working Gear | Nov 30, 2020
Did you know that most companies will not hire individuals for manual labour or construction work without the correct gear? Unfortunately, this is the reality for many of Working Gear’s clients.
Working Gear’s former client, Merv, experienced this barrier to employment firsthand. He arrived in Vancouver in 2018, ready to work as an experienced forklift driver and labourer. Upon arriving, he could not afford to purchase the boots he needed to safely work, or the clothing to keep him warm and dry on rainy Vancouver days.
WorkBC referred Merv to Working Gear, knowing it would be a safe and friendly place for him to access steel-toe boots and other protective gear, free of charge. Merv walked out of Working Gear with boots, a hard hat, a high-vis hoodie and vest, and warm gloves – everything he needed to get back onto the job site.
“I was blown away, I couldn’t believe this place existed,” Merv explains. “Sarah and the team were so welcoming – they helped me pick out everything I needed to get me ready for work. Working Gear was the helping hand I needed.”
The day after Merv’s appointment at Working Gear, he got a job at Rogers Arena – a job he says is easily his favourite job to-date. One of Merv’s claims to fame is that, as one of Roger Arena’s best forklift drivers, he helped move Elton John’s piano and even got a handshake from the man himself! “But that’s a story for another day,” he says, smiling.
Merv credits his employment success to Working Gear, as the organization helped him get the start in Vancouver he greatly needed. Without the support of Working Gear, Merv isn’t sure where he would be now.
Working Gear needs your support to create more success stories – just like Merv’s. Your donation will help ensure that Working Gear can continue to break down barriers to employment that many individuals are currently facing.
Thanks to our generous partner, WorkSafeBC, your donation today will go even further. WorkSafeBC heard about our fundraising goal ($10,000) and they have offered to match donations up to $5,000. Don’t miss out on doubling your impact on Giving Tuesday, donate today!
by Working Gear | Feb 3, 2020
The average cost of living in Greater Vancouver
According to the 2015 census, the median total income of households in Vancouver was $72,662. So what does life look like as the average Vancouverite?
Rent costs approximately one-third of your income: a one-bedroom apartment in the City Centre is $2,054; outside of the city, it’s a little cheaper at $1,659. This leaves approximately $3,800 for living expenses. Living locally, your zone 1 bus pass costs $98/ month, your food cost, phone, internet, clothing, and entertainment is estimated, for a single person to be $1,143. With this in mind, the average person living in Vancouver has just over $2000 each month to get ahead.
The reality of low income
Low income individuals, the clients that Working Gear supports, represent 16% of all Metro Vancouver citizens.
According to Stats Canada for a one-person household, the after-tax low-income measure was $22,460 in 2015. That’s $1,872 per month, which must cover rent and all you need to survive. For our clients, this means:
- Everything outside of basic needs is a decision of what to sacrifice
- Living out of the city and paying almost double for a bus pass
- Longer commutes to the city and, sometimes, restricted transit access
- Food, phone, and “life” must fit into just over $200 per month
The current price of safety gear
In British Columbia, an employer must enforce the use of safety gear even if they do not provide it. Hard hats and reflective vests may be what is commonly envisioned, but safety gear is highly specific to the job’s needs. Slip-proof boots, rain gear, and ear protection can be just as important to prevent injury.
Safety equipment is not only essential. It is personal and not easily shared, and is often the first thing a worker will invest in when they’re starting out.
With this perspective, let’s look at the cost of safety gear. We looked at Mark’s online sales. What does it cost to start that first day of work if you start with nothing?
Safety Gear
- A reflective vest $21-149
- Safety glasses $19
- Hard hats $59
- Ear protection $9-$24
- Boots, gloves, jackets and more are designed and priced for a competitive marketplace making smarter and more expensive components all the time
Personal Gear
- Work boots $64-159
- Work jacket $69-$181+
- Rain gear $24-259; reflective starts at $144
- Shoe covers $29-69
- Overalls $59-209
- Work pants $64-94
- Gloves $10-43
Work Safe Gear
How Working Gear helps
It is clear how much more difficult it is for low income individuals to be able to access the safety gear and other personal equipment they need for their first week on the job.
Working Gear helps level the field with gently used or new gear so our clients can be ready. The reality is that adequate gear is not good enough. We ensure the donations we carry are high quality items that will last.
by Working Gear | Dec 19, 2019
One of the most inspiring and beautiful things of walking through the doors of Working Gear’s shop, is to arrive and be greeted by the wonderful volunteers. We’d like to take time during this holiday season to give them all a shout out, for being the awesome human beings that they are. Sharing their time and energy with the staff and clientele of Working Gear. Working Gear is primarily volunteer ran, without our lovely volunteers we simply would not be able to survive.
We had the opportunity to talk to the lovely Paul Gouldhawke, a volunteer who is always smiling, ready to help. Thank you Paul for taking the time to speak to us about your time volunteering at Working Gear. Here’s what he had to say about the organization.
Paul, How did you hear about Working Gear?
About three years ago I came across Working Gear while searching the Internet.
How long have you been involved in the organization?
Almost three years. After working gear helped me obtain some construction gear, I volunteered. I was very impressed by the care and assistance the volunteers provided to their clients.
What is your favourite thing about the organization?
I think what I appreciate the most is the real difference Working Gear can make in someone’s life, often it is difficult to obtain all the gear or clothes when one is trying to return to work. We provide both construction and retail career outfits such as suits and shoes.
What motivates you to volunteer your time in the shop?
I’ve volunteered in the past for other causes and I recognize the need for an organization like Working Gear. The volunteer staff are very friendly and they do make a real effort to assist clients in obtaining needed clothing.
Can you share a special moment that you had while volunteering? or a story that has stayed with you?
We recently had a client new to Canada who volunteered with us after obtaining some interview clothing. He looked great in the suit he received and got the job the next day. This success is very motivating for our staff and organization.
How much of an impact do you see working gear is making in the community?
I think we make quite a difference in the lives of clients. It’s rewarding to see them find outfits and gear that will help them obtain work.
What can you tell potential donors about this organization?
We put donations to good use benefiting others. Our shop is well organized and it provides a unique service as the only organization of its type in Vancouver.
How will their money contribute to your cause?
Monetary donations are used to purchase items that are most needed. Not all items required are donated, we do purchase items such as rain gear and gloves.
So donors can rest assured their money will be used carefully and fully appreciated.
Special thanks to Paul Gouldhawke for sharing his story with us.
Working Gear is always looking for motivated individuals interested in volunteering with us. For more information about how to get involved, please contact our volunteer coordinator at info@workinggear.ca
