You’ve heard that Oakridge has committed to raising $50,000 for career-boosting, life changing organization Dress for Success Vancouver. We’ve got the inside scoop on why Oakridge supports this incredibly worthy cause, and how you can help, courtesy of Deborah Twocock, executive director.
O: What does Dress for Success Vancouver do?
DT: We remove barriers to employment, barriers most often caused by having a lack of money or by having a lack of human support: Mothers and sisters and friends that will help you through the rough times.
O: Who does Dress for Success Vancouver help?
DT: We serve women across the lower mainland who have been referred to us by other not-for-profit agencies that help women prepare to enter the workforce. They refer those that might need more help through clothing. We take it from there. These women can use our computers, our internet, our printers, and get access to 3500 online courses and mentors.
O: Can you tell us some of your favourite stories?
DT: There’s a million. Recently, one of the people we dressed and who then went through our professional women’s group, and then became a mentor, is now in a position to donate a scholarship to our program. When our clients become our community of help is really quite cool. We had a girl come in, carrying one beautiful suit in a garment bag. She said, “You gave me this suit, and I don’t need it anymore. I just wanted to pass the karma on to someone else.” Lots of our success stories are really small: Somebody can take their kid on a holiday for the first time. People who figure out finally what it is they want to do and have a chance to go for it. Or someone who, at the age of 50, for the first time, actually has a full time job with benefits.
O: Where exactly does donated money go?
DT: It goes into running our programs. We don’t take any government funding. We have no other source of income aside from donations. Everything we do is thanks to the good grace of our community.
What you can do to help
Click on the DONATE to Dress for Success Vancouver link on the Oakridge Style home page to help women find work, and self-sufficiency.
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