Bus Stop Campaign

Bus Stop Campaign

Beep, beep, did you hear the news?

Working Gear is taking Vancouver by… bus?

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, 2021, 11:59PM PST

Working Gear Bus ad
Working Gear Bus ad
Working Gear logo - reversed

WE ARE LOCATED AT

475 Main, St Unit 228
Vancouver, BC V6A 2T7

info@workinggear.ca

778.877.0147

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.

Copyright ©2024 Working Gear Clothing Society. All rights reserved. Working Gear Clothing Society is a Registered Canadian Charity.

Meet Sarah Beley, Director of Working Gear

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.

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.

Working Gear Holmes Effect
Sarah Beley - holmes effect

Sarah eagerly awaiting the big reveal with volunteer Cal and the Holmes family.

Working Gear logo - reversed

WE ARE LOCATED AT

475 Main, St Unit 228
Vancouver, BC V6A 2T7

info@workinggear.ca

778.877.0147

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.

Copyright ©2024 Working Gear Clothing Society. All rights reserved. Working Gear Clothing Society is a Registered Canadian Charity.

Working Gear Featuring on CTV’s Holmes Family Effect

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

Mike Holmes, Mike Holmes Jr and Sherry Holmes surprise Working Gear's Sarah Beley

 

Volunteer Spotlight: Michael

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.

Volunteer Spotlight: Barb

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.