Goodwill’s new program helps Hamilton job seekers look fabulous, stay confident

A new blazer, or even a new pair of shoes can often put some pep in your step.

Now with over $73,000 from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, job seekers in Hamilton will have an opportunity to spruce up their wardrobe through a new program with Goodwill.

“We know Ontario is in the middle of a jobs crisis,” said Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles. “Over 800,000 Ontarians are unemployed right now and youth are hit the hardest.”

Stiles made this statement at Queen’s Park Monday, after she said she met with educators, employment agencies and community leaders.

The NDP leader says Ontario has the lowest labour participation in Canada, and data from Statistics Canada says thousands of jobs have been lost in the province in recent weeks, which means a lot of people are looking for work.

That can certainly be felt in Hamilton, which is why Goodwill launched a new program called Clothing Works.

“A one-on-one personalized consultation, where somebody gets beautiful attention that they deserve,” said Beverley Kobe, the CEO of Goodwill Industries Ontario Great Lakes.

With the rising cost of living, Kobe says there needs to be access to affordable goods.

That’s why she says this new program is so important.

“They get to try on outfits that compliment their colour, their style, and they walk out of that room, after an hour and a half walking taller,” said Kobe. “They’ve found confidence.”

A big part of any job seeking process is confidence to hear the “no’s” and eventually hear the “yes.”

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This new program hopes to build their confidence.

“I was out of the workforce for a long time, and having an opportunity like this at Clothing Works, to kind of remind myself of where my power is, and get myself back in the saddle,” said Ellis Ritz, a volunteer with the Clothing Works program.

Ritz has a background in retail fashion and says this program brings her back to the work she loves doing — a way to keep her confidence up during her employment search.

It worked, because she starts her new job next week.

“I have spent quite a while working with my employment counsellor here at Goodwill, to find a good fit for myself,” said Ritz.

To participate in the program, job seekers — who are supported by an employment agency — are referred, fill out a form, which tells Clothing Works what clothing to pull, based on the type of job.

“So when they come in, they are greeted by the volunteers who are the fashion consultants,” said Evelyn Zaya, the Program Coordinator of Clothing Works Hamilton. “They have a one hour appointment in the boutique.”

That hour includes tailoring services provided by the volunteers at the heart of the program.

More information on how you can get connected with Clothing Works can be found here.

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