FACT: Donated Suits Improve Men’s Chances for Employment.
Chances are, you know someone who has been out of work this past year. And with unemployment comes hard times, even harder choices and a limited amount of options to find fulfilling, meaningful work. In fact, this past April alone, there were 744,600 reported cases of unemployed men across Canada – and the need to help these men is a very real issue.
I’ve had friends, family members and loved ones who have unexpectedly found themselves unemployed. And let me tell you – it’s rough. But the only thing worse than scouring the want ads, re-writing your resume and worriedly checking on the bank balance, is not having confidence in the way you present yourself at interviews. After all, your self-esteem when you walk through the door can dictate how successful your meeting is. However, for several men looking to break back into the workforce, they simply don’t have access to an interview-ready wardrobe.
This year, I’m proud to partner with Moores Clothing to help spread the word about the Moores’ Canadian Suit Drive. The Suit Drive provides free suits and professional clothing to men seeking to turn their lives around by working directly with more than 60 local recipient organizations across Canada that provide job readiness programs for men seeking employment.
“We may not realize how much confidence a suit can give, but sometimes that small act of donating a suit to someone in need hoping to transition back into the workplace can make all the difference,” says Paige Souter, Executive Director at Dress Your Best in Toronto.
It makes perfect sense to me, and this past weekend, I raided my husband’s closet to find worthwhile items he was ready to part with. From shirts and jackets to pants and ties, I collected a nice pile of stylish clothes that we knew would be better suited (pun intended) to a job seeker than hanging out at the back of his closet. And it’s all good, because we win too! As a thank you for donating, customers will receive 50 per cent off their next purchase from Moores (excluding shoes, clearance, and Exceptional Value items).
Now in its fifth year, Moores’ Canadian Suit Drive runs from July 1-31, 2014. Canadians can donate men’s suits, shirts, jackets, pants, ties, belts and shoes as well as women’s professional clothing at any of the more than 100 Moores’ stores across Canada. For more information, visit www.canadiansuitdrive.com.
No suit? No Problem! You can donate even if you don’t have any professional attire to spare. For every social mention of #SuitDrive, Moores will donate $1 (up to $10,000) to the cause. You don’t even have to leave the house!
Remember, by contributing to the Suit Drive, you’re helping at least one Canadian man facing barriers to employment get back on his feet. So dig deep! I can’t think of a better reason to make some room in your boyfriend or husband’s closet. Click here to visit Moores’ Canadian Suit Drive.