by Guest Blogger: Danielle Connor

Sweater Making Campaign for Charity

While studying as a fashion design student at George Brown College and working with my co-workers at the George Brown Student Association we decided to run a sweater making campaign. George Brown fashion designs students will be making sweaters for those that are living in poverty in Toronto. We’re donating the sweaters to the New Circles Community Centre – a clothing bank in the city that gives clothing to its clients free of charge.

Pictured above is one of the sweaters I altered for the cause -  I slashed and spread the top of the sleeve to get a gathered puffy look,  added a shoulder patch of different material and cut a very exaggerated curved hem in the front.

Join In The Challenge

We’re asking you to join me and the students at George Brown College to make a sweater for someone who is struggling in their lives and cannot afford to go out and buy one. Then make one for yourself . Create or use a simple basic sweater pattern. Have fun with it, alter it, add some pizzazz. Or don’t . Choose an interesting print (check out Balenciaga’s s/s 2011 line, www.style.com; to get some inspiration) or a bold colour, then crop the length and leave your sweater straight lined and crisp looking.

Bring the sweater you make for New Circles into the George Brown Student Association at either the St. James Location (200 King Street East) or the Casa Loma campus (160 Kendal Avenue, Room E130). And then wear your unique, beautiful sweater with pride! Join the army!

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Wear White for Windfall – Providing New Clothing for People in Need
* The Official WW4W Day is Thursday, January 27, 2011 *

Another great way get involved in the incredibly vast army of volunteers and social sweethearts that are out there in this great city of Toronto is to get involved with Wear White for Windfall (WW4W) – an initiative put on by Windfall clothing . Windfall provides NEW clothing and basic needs items to those living in poverty and crisis.

Check out the site for ideas on how to help raise money for the charity by holding a clothing drive or bake sale – or just check out the site to find exclusive WW4W items for sale like a Franco Mirabelli limited edition WW4W t-shirt (only $25!) or a Leslie Battrick set of earrings (only $20!!).

Jacob and Jacob Lingerie recently launched a huge clothing drive with a goal to collect and donate 50,000 articles of previously loved clothing to Goodwill/Renaissance – of course for people in need (or thrift store shoppers) to find and enjoy!

Now I know we all give our old or no longer worn clothes to Goodwill anyways – but for this initiative, Jacob is giving donors 25% off any regular priced item in its stores for every piece donated!

Simply bring in clothes you’d like to donate to any Jacob store and you will get your discount!

Goodwill sells second-hand items at its network of stores, creating work opportunities and skills development for people facing barriers to employment.

This is my kind of dare: Put together fabulous, fashionable outfits sourced from a second-hand store.

For its 10th anniversary, the Yonge Street Mission’s Double Take Store is challenging budding stylistas with a ‘Designer Dare’. Head to the Double Take store (parliament/gerrard), find some awesome items and put them together to win gift certificates and other great prizes.

Fashion designer and stylist Zanesha Gowrali and professional personal shopper Cathy DeSerranno (from First Canadian Place) will be leading the judging panel.

Application Form: http://www.ysm.ca/programs-ministries/double-take-store/

Double Take will also be having a 10 Anniversary Party, June 5, 2010 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the parking lot. 310 Gerrard St. E.

When it comes to purging bags of clothes, shoes and accessories (which I regularly do), I used to almost always head to the nearest Goodwill to unload. After visiting more than one ‘unruly’ store though, it sort of became harder to imagine my once loved, still wearable clothes getting lost in those dump piles.

So, Salvation Army became my next recipient of donated goods – especially because it maintains its “thrift” store mentality and keep its prices low for low-income shoppers (which is why I never donate to Value Village…).

There are however many smaller community centres, churches and shelters that provide clothing, home goods and toiletries for needy families, young moms, homeless folk – a more grassroots approach to recycling clothing and home goods:

** please keep in mind when donating to community centres or shelters that the clothing and/or linens should be clean and wearable. Also, these places are often in need of seasonal items like winter coats, etc… **

Where to Donate Clothes, Shoes, Homewares & Unused Toiletries in Toronto

Red Door Shelters emergency shelters across Toronto - in need of household items and linens, seasonal clothing. 21 Carlaw Avenue, Toronto

The Scott Mission clothing bank-502 Spadina Avenue, Toronto 416-923-3916

Dress Your Best changes the lives of Canadians by outfitting women, men and youth with clothing for employment. DYB gives each client an average of 5 outfits – 20 to 30 articles of clothing – including shoes and various accessories. Open for clothing donation drops offs on Wednesdays between 10am-8pm c/o The Walmer Centre 188 Lowther Avenue, 3rd floor, Toronto

Good Shepherd Centre homeless shelters accepts clothing, toiletries and recreational items. 412 Queen Street East (near Queen East & Parliament Streets)

YWCA Womens shelter – Call donations coordinator 416.693.6978, ext. 231

Convenant House teen shelter – needs clothing, books, etc…20 Gerrard Street East, Toronto,  (416) 598-4898

Pick Up:

Oasis Clothing Bank (the ones with the green bins around city): Check the website to see the items they will pick up > http://www.clothingbank.ca/faqs.asp

Donate Art Supplies et al.

Sketch provides opportunities for street and homeless people between the ages of 15-29, to engage in the arts in a cross-discipline studio environment or in the community. In need of everything from art supplies to kitchen appliances to toilet paper. 580 King St. W., 2nd Floor, Toronto (416) 516-5428

Donate Toys/Magazines to your local hospital for use in the waiting rooms.

I could go on and on – so for more places to donate your stuff including ink cartridges, computers, shoes, toys…  http://www.toronto.ca/reuseit/orgs.htm

For a list of shelters and social service agencies in Toronto, check outhttp://www.211toronto.ca