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
by Working Gear | Jul 17, 2019
We had the opportunity to meet Maria Juana Aristizabal, one of the volunteers at Working Gear. Maria regularly volunteers at our shop and helped organize this year’s Gear to Give gala. This year’s event raised $48,000.
How long have you been involved with Working Gear?
I have been a volunteer and part of the fundraising committee for six months.
What motivates you to help this cause?
I have been very fortunate and haven’t experienced any significant setbacks in my life, so it makes sense to me to help others. This cause in particular spoke to me because it’s about giving people opportunities, something I have been given many times in my life and therefore I know how important they can be in setting you in the right trajectory. This cause also seemed like something relatively simple that could make a big impact on someone’s life.
How much of an impact do you see Working Gear is making in the community?
As a volunteer, I have seen men and women from all walks of life light up with new clothing that helps them get a job. It’s not only a practical tool but a vote of confidence in themselves. I have been given many hugs from our clients who are so glad a place like ours exists – a place where they feel welcomed, pampered and cared for.
What can you tell potential donors or partners about this organization? How will their donations contribute to your cause?
We need relatively little to make a huge difference. Many of us see clothes as disposable and we take it for granted that we can go and buy more when we need to. But many people can’t, and what is really sad is that this prevents them from being able to work. If people knew the stories of those we help and the difference it makes, I am convinced that everyone would be happy to contribute.
Special thanks to Maria Juana Aristizabal for sharing her 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 email us.
WHY SHOULD YOU VOLUNTEER WITH WORKING GEAR?
- Opportunity to get involved and make a direct impact on lives in your community
- Establish long lasting relationships with people from diverse backgrounds working towards a common cause
- Help us continue to empower hundreds on their path to financial independence
Photo by: Maxine Bulloch
by Working Gear | Mar 27, 2019
We had the pleasure of sitting down with Stephen Flynn, founder of Working Gear. He talked to us about the impact that Working Gear is making in the community and why it’s important for the organization to continue to receive the support it has until today…
Tell us your name and what you do here at Working Gear:
My name is Stephen Flynn, I am the person who started Working Gear 12 years ago and I’m a volunteer in the shop. I like to come here on Wednesday nights and I like to help a variety of guys get clothes and work gear so that they can get ready to go back to work.
What motivated you to found this organization?
Well when we started Working Gear 12 years ago, there wasn’t any kind of service in Vancouver or the Lower Mainland to assist men going for job interviews or onto a worksite with clothing or gear supports. There was a service like that for women called “Dress for Success” – which is fantastic organization but it didn’t provide services for men.
How much growth have you seen in the last 12 years?
Well it’s been a busy 12 years and Working Gear has been open two or three days a week for almost all of this time. We’ve seen tremendous growth; not only in terms of the size of our shop and the amount of clothing and gear that we provide to men (and now increasingly to women in the trades) but also in terms of the numbers of people we serve. At the current time, we feel that we probably provide services to about 1,000 clients a year. And on a night like tonight, it’s a busy night. We’ve got 10 – 12 clients and five or six volunteers helping them get haircuts, interview clothes and construction gear, especially work boots.
Can you tell us a story that has stayed with you in these last 12 years?
Well there are a number of clients that we’ve had come in to the shop, and these fellows have become volunteers in the shop as well. These are people that we kind of know the best, and have a really good, maybe the best, appreciation for because we’ve gotten to know them over a longer period of time. They might come in once a year, we might see them every couple of years, or they might be repeat clients over the years. And in 12 years, you know they are older, the kinds of jobs they are looking for are different but they are still really challenged to be able to afford nice looking interview clothes or trade appropriate construction gear. These kinds of things are very expensive. And for men who are living in poverty, who don’t have the best paying jobs to begin with, these kinds of support are very important.
How much impact do you see Working Gear is making in the community?
Well that’s a good question. We’re just starting to get better at tracking our statistics. But we know that we do have an impact and that the services we provide are really needed. We know that by working with our partner agencies, the employment service organizations, as well as anecdotally from stories we hear from the men and women coming into our shop that the impact that we have is critical. What we are trying to do is provide accessible clothing and gear supports for our clients to be able to return to work as quickly as possible. We are low barrier, don’t have a lot of paperwork and don’t create barriers for them to get back into the workplace. We want them to have the clothes they need to be able to get out and to find a job.
What can you tell potential donors or partners about this organization? How will their money/ donations contribute to your cause?
Well that’s a good question. Since day one Working Gear has relied upon the kindness of strangers and donors. Most of our clothing and gear is donated, although we do purchase some items such as rain gear and steel toe boots, which is part of the reason why financial donations are so important as well. We feel that, you know, we are not providing handouts to people, we are providing a helping hand up for people that are determined and ready to work. And the donations that they make help keep the doors open here, they keep our services free, and they support not only hundreds but over a thousand men a year who come in and use our services. So those kind of contributions are very important to us, and any donations that are made, whether financial or in-kind, go directly towards our services.
We invite everyone to join us at Working Gear’s Annual Fundraiser – Gear to Give held on June 6th at the Vancouver Club. Click here for more information.
