My Sisters Closet – Battered Women’s Support Services (My Sister’s Closet – BWSS Social Enterprise – Retail & Fashion Volunteer)

Organization Name: My Sisters Closet – Battered Women’s Support Services
Opportunity Title: My Sister’s Closet – BWSS Social Enterprise – Retail & Fashion Volunteer
Category: Social and Community Service
Commitment: Less than 6 months, 6 months to 1 year
Start Date: August 7, 2019
End Date: August 7, 2025

Email: mscvolcoord@bwss.org
Website: https://www.bwss.org/
Details:

• Appropriate for youth (i.e., less than 18)
• Appropriate for volunteers aged between 18 and 55
• Appropriate for volunteers aged 55 and over
• Family-oriented volunteering

Opportunity Description:

Help end violence against women and girls – volunteer at My Sister’s Closet. Our Retail Program and Social Enterprise provides girls and women with volunteer experience which increases esteem, confidence, and employability.
About us:
BWSS Retail Program & Social Enterprise
We are women social entrepreneurs through the marketing of our skill-based feminist counseling training program since the 1990s and with the opening of the My Sister’s Closet Eco-thrift boutique in 2001. We have grown to fully realize our potential as successful social businesswomen.

As advocates of zero waste, eco-fashion and the thrift movement, we enable women, men and children to access beautiful new and second-hand clothing. Revenue generated from the sales of clothing help fund violence prevention and intervention services operated by Battered Women’s Support Services which support over 11,000 women every year. Download our brochure about My Sister’s Closet Retail Program.
One of the many ways we meet the needs of women in our community is through social enterprise. This includes our Retail Program and thrift boutique, My Sister’s Closet.
My Sister’s Closet is a community boutique where we are offering diversity in fashion to our shoppers with exceptional service from over 40 volunteer women. Our little boutique is a space for the community to come together to end violence against women and girls.

You can find gently used, recycled, vintage, and eco-fashion clothing in a variety of styles and sizes for both women and men. All the clothing and accessories are donated by community members, retailers, and the film industry.

My Sister’s Closet was founded on the principle of seeking freedom from the whims of government to end violence against women. In the past year alone, 13,000 women have accessed services at BWSS. In addition, clothing is donated out to organizations serving women and men in need of free clothing such as the YWCA Single Moms housing, BC Coalition of People with Disabilities, DTES Women’s Centre, and to BWSS Safety & Outreach Program in the DTES.
Safe & Welcoming Space for Community
Our boutique is also about providing a safe and welcoming space for the community to engage with us and/or join our efforts in ending violence against women and girls. Information on our programs and services at BWSS, how you can support our ending violence work, and collaborating in events and fundraiser events are available at My Sister’s Closet.