Volunteer your time

Volunteers are the backbone of Wear2Start and have been generously giving their time and energy to assist women in need in our community since 2001. A small but mighty group fills the current roles of Boutique Consultants, Inventory Specialists, Client Intake Specialists, Consignment Liaisons and Board Directors.

Boutique Consultants work a weekly shift in the boutique sorting clothes and dressing clients during pre-booked appointments. Inventory Specialists welcome and assist members of the community with their clothing donations and determine the suitability of donations as related to our clients’ needs. Volunteers in these roles are asked to commit to one, five-hour shift each week. Tasks can include sorting, steaming and tagging clothing, styling our clients, and making and answering phone calls. The Boutique is generally open for clients two days/week, and clothing donations one day/week, 10am to 3pm. We are unable to accommodate client or donation drop-ins and all appointments must be pre-booked. As we continue to grow, Wear2Start anticipates opening on additional days in response to the needs of our clients.

Client Intake Specialists work remotely by phone and email to schedule client appointments, share information with the client about what they can expect, and determine the needs of the client to ensure a positive and engaging experience once they arrive at their appointment. Good computer skills are a must in this role, including Word, Excel, and email.

The Consignment Liaison is a specialized role that works with our community consignment partners.

Board Directors are responsible for the overall governance of Wear2Start and play key roles in finance and fundraising, communications, community engagement and outreach. Directors are asked to serve a two-year term, not to exceed three consecutive terms, and commit to a minimum of five hours per month for meetings, planning and consultation.

Wear2Start welcomes volunteers to assist with fundraising and one-time special events as well as professionals willing to share their skills in social media, communications, and other areas of expertise.

When Wear2Start has vacancies in specific volunteer roles, postings can be found on the Volunteer Victoria website, on our social media pages, and in the News & Events section of this website. For additional information and inquiries, or suggestions about how you might be able to help, please email volunteer@wear2start.com or fill in our application form below.

Donate clothing, shoes, purses, accessories

Clothing donations are by appointment only. Our boutique is almost always in need of clothing at opposite ends of the size range – sizes 0-4 and sizes 18-plus – as well as shoes in larger sizes (9, 10 and larger). We want to provide our clients with up-to-date, stylish clothing any women would be happy to wear. Some of our clients go on to work in a variety of job settings, including offices, hospitals, non-profits, restaurants, retailers, schools and childcare centres, while others need clothing for daily life or events such as meeting with a prospective landlord, attending a workshop or networking event, or going back to school. As a result, we look for a wide range of clothing. Please make sure your clothing donations are current fashions and clean, with no rips, runs or stains. We also welcome donations of gently used shoes, purses, classic jewelry, and new undergarments. Even items such as a portfolio in which to bring resumes to an interview are helpful. Please note that we have limited storage space, so we ask that you be selective in choosing just a few of the best items you have to donate.  Book a clothing donation appointment.

Please note: Clothing that has been in our inventory for a while or is not appropriate for our clients may be donated elsewhere or may be consigned or used to raise funds to assist with programming costs.

Hold a fundraiser

Our supporters have found many creative ways to raise money for Wear2Start. You could consider organizing a get-together — a clothing swap or jewelry exchange, for example — and charge a small admission or ask participants to make a donation. Most importantly, have fun and enjoy doing something to help others in the community. One of our most successful fundraisers ever was held by high school student Lauren Roworth. Her four-month LegUp4Women campaign raised more than $10,000 and collected about $600 of new leggings. We appreciate all efforts to help Wear2Start. Every donation, no matter how big or small, makes a difference.