Menu
Brands for Canada was mentioned in an opinion piece in the Globe & Mail about the recent concerns with retailers disposing of unused goods. See an excerpt below and read the full piece here.
“It doesn’t have to be this way. Brands for Canada is a national charity based in Toronto that works with more than 200 brand partners, including Winners and the Gap, and 100 social service agencies and schools to collect and redirect clothes and goods that would otherwise end up in the landfill. Last year, the charity was able to divert almost 225,000 kilograms of goods from the landfill with its corporate partners.
“They recently gave me a tour of their warehouse of donated goods where I saw bedding and pyjamas headed to shelters, suits and work wear from retailers such as Moores destined for youth in employment programs such as the charity’s Suitable Impressions program, children’s clothing and supplies to be distributed through schools to children in need.”
You might have seen this trending story last week about unused goods found outside a store at Dufferin Mall in Toronto. We are now in talks with Carter’s OshKosh B’gosh Canada to provide a sustainable solution for any surplus goods at stores across Canada. Clothing will be donated through Brands For Canada to local communities, for families living below the poverty line.⠀
⠀
See the story full story on CBC News & our Executive Director Helen Harakas here.
View this post on Instagram
Our Suitable Impressions program helps over 450 marginalized, but work-ready, clients each year, giving them the tools they need to get back into the workforce and find a new job. Having the right outfit and a fresh haircut has an amazing ripple effect on one’s confidence and self-worth.
Last month, Suitable Impressions received donations of ladieswear from Brenda Beddome and Shirley Curson.
Brenda Beddome donated 180Lbs, her clothing that is known for fits that complement a woman’s body and are exceptionally comfortable.
This workshop provides clothing, personal image and first impression training for job-seekers. For more information or to sign up for our monthly workshops, please visit this page.
Adler Graduate Professional School is a post-secondary school offering a degree in Master of Psychology and a variety of academic programs which prepare students to provide services in the areas of mental health and wellbeing.
Scholarship Recipient, Teresa Bialkowska
Adler GPS has selected Teresa Bialkowska, an #EdgeProgram graduate, to receive a scholarship to become a professionally trained coach. ⠀
A big thank you to Adler Toronto for this exciting opportunity to help Teresa take her professional and personal life to the next level. Sincere gratitude for this wonderful partnership!
Iconic Candian brand Smythe is known for incredible blazers that take any outfit up a notch. Their prints and fabrics are great to show your personal style in an elegant way.
Last month, Smythe donated 800 Lbs of fabric that will be used to create items that can be distributed to Canadians in need. Get ready to layer, new Smythe arrivals for fall are in stock an online. See more in their Instagram at @smythethebrand.
View this post on Instagram
We recently held our annual Customer Appreciation Event where we welcomed agency partners, program partners, volunteers, supporters, and board members. We had a total of 50 guests in attendance along with a photo booth, photographer, music, food, cake and takeaway gifts.
Notable guests include Helen Harakas, Executive Director, Cynthia Roemer, Programs Director, Tria Urnom, Senior Programs Director, Jay Stoyan, Founder, The Disability Channel, board members Catherine McHutcheon & Heather Partridge, and BFC board chair Donna Cansfield.
BFC board chair Donna Cansfield
We read a great article on the World Economic Forum on the economic, social and environmental impacts of fast fashion. Check out the video and info below read more here.
This week we met with the dream team from Links for Greener Learning. They arrived at our office from St. Catharines to pick up 24 rolls of surplus fabric donated to BFC. They will be using it to produce clothing for their upcoming Eco Chic Fashion Show (May 31st). The will also produce other essential basics that their sewing program creates for shelters they support in Welland, Ontario.
Learn more by visiting their website at linksforgreenerlearning.org.
Wuxly Movement, formerly Wully Outerwear, is an ethical lifestyle brand that designs and manufactures Canadian made outerwear-primarily Parka Jackets, Vegan Winter Coats, Warm Winter Jackets for Women and Men. Their Live Warm Trade Up program allows people to trade in their lightly used fur trim or down-filled parka and receive a credit towards a Wuxly Parka.
Have a goose down or fur trim parka? We’ve just launched our Live Warm Trade Up Program for the month of October where you can receive a credit towards one of our parkas (while quantities last). Head over to the link in our bio to learn more 🙌. #LiveWarm – Pass it on. pic.twitter.com/0b9omD5Hap
— Wuxly Movement (@WuxlyMovement) October 2, 2018
The program was to originally run for the month of October and they have extended it indefinitely. Winter jackets received by Wuxly Movement will gladly be re-distributed to homeless shelters throughout Canada, in an effort to help those in need live a little warmer. Fur from received jackets will be extracted from traded in jackets and donated to animal rehabilitation centres for use in wildlife recovery.
