It can be said that the experience my group and I had while working with New Circles was a very eye-opening; seeing the little day-to-day life events that we all seem to take for granted being very different from other families. Personally, when we first started this journey I only somewhat recognized the name of the organization and did not know what they did or what they stood for in the community and now I can see that it is a very special organization, especially being an immigrant myself.
Most organizations tend to focus on a single purpose with a standardized way of helping their communities in order to make it as equal and fair as they can. New Circles, however, has taken it upon themselves to go the extra mile and thought of a thorough concept to maximize the way in which they can help as well as the amount of people that they can help. This organization does not only help in the moment but they work to build a future for those who walk through their doors. Any new immigrants in Canada can tell you how hard it is coming to a new country with next to nothing and being treated as such. However, New Circles provides those within their community, whether that be an immigrant, a neighbour, a refugee, or so forth, with the tools they need to rebuild their lives while giving them the respect and dignity they deserve. These tools include skill training such as hands-on retail and customer service skills or business office skills that prepare individuals for job searching. New Circles also provides the community with settlement support services that include childcare, housing, employment counseling and legal help with their immigration status. Another popular service they provide is a clothing bank unlike any other. Their clothing bank does not randomly assign what they would be receiving, instead creating a retail environment for them to have the power to choose what they would like to get – especially important for families with kids.
To start off our day at New Circles, we were provided with an information and training session for volunteers. In this session we learned about the history and future of the organization, services, safety procedures, and what our role as volunteers would look like. The session was followed by a tour of the clothing bank, GLOW (Gently Loved Outfits to Wear), where would we working, as well as some background knowledge on how the operations run smoothly. At this point we were each lead to different areas of GLOW and all given different tasks and responsibilities. GLOW is divided into various departments, including kids, women’s, men’s, shoes, and accessories sections – all of which were organized by type and size. I was initially zoned in the men’s pants section, however, after reorganizing and sizing the rack I was relocated into the accessories section. This is where I spent most of my time sorting, organizing, and rearranging the display of goods. Since the accessory section was located directly by the register desk and the kids play zone, I mainly interacted with younger children and customers who were starting to prepare for the harsh Canadian winter.
The positioning of the accessory section also meant that it was the section people tampered the most with. As not just a clothing retail employee but someone who is easily fixated on order and symmetry, it was so satisfying to be able to fix the cluttered zone. I was given full range of how to go about my task of organizing, so I decided to attempt to make it as easily maintainable as accessible to ensure improved functionality going forward. In order to accomplish this, I had to use my judgement to best sort through all of the items and classify them into groups of equal or similar styles, textures, lengths/sizes, and colors. Having a better understanding of the space, I rehung all the items accordingly. I also rearranged the peg hooks to be symmetrical and give customers enough space to look at one rack without completely tumbling over the next. At GLOW they had quite a number of hats – ranging from toques, to ball caps, to summer hats, which prompted me to give the most focus and space to these pieces to ensure customers notice the wide array available. Thanks to my background in fashion retail as a merchandiser, I categorized the goods in the order that most retail stores would merchandize their products, while also taking note of how popular some categories were over others in order to maximize the exposure of other goods that seem to be in excess. To conclude my work at GLOW I went around the floor collecting and sorting all the empty hangers to the backroom.
I am extremely thankful for the opportunity to volunteer with New Circles. Personally, I carry a very hectic schedule and this opportunity made me remember the struggles that my family and I first experienced ten years ago, which is very humbling. It is very easy to get lost in the day-to-day stuff and forget all that we have and can easily acquire. When my family and I first came to Canada, we had to start from zero and I remember how hard it was for my parents to settle down, find somewhere for us to live, and finding a way to provide us with all we needed – especially for the harsh weather. I remember how hard it was for them to find a job because no one cared about all the experience they had or what rank they were at back home, all they cared about was what you had done in Canada. The fact that New Circles is helping so many new immigrants integrate themselves into the community is outstanding because they see the flaw in the system and work to be a part of the solution. I can tell you that the work being done by this organization is beyond compare and will forever be appreciated by those they help. The clothing bank that they turned into a retail experience is astounding since they are giving families and individuals shame-free help. They can let their kids run around and choose what they like and want to wear, making them feel like it was bought just for them and not making them feel any less than the other kids at school. The same goes for the adults, giving them the pride that they aren’t just taking handouts from people that pity them. Even while I was at GLOW I overheard conversations and most notably shared a conversation with a customer who spoke Spanish who told me how overwhelmed with gratitude they were with the whole concept of GLOW and the fact that it makes them feel like they are not alone and can ask for help without seeming weak. I had a couple of little kids coming up to me asking for help to reach things to then watch them run to their parents and ask if they could have it, seeing the look of relief in their parents eyes that they didn’t have to deny or say “no I can't get that for you” again made the whole experience unforgettable.
Working with this organization really put into perspective how much a single action can have such a resonating impact on someone. This experience has encouraged me to volunteer again around my community to give back to those who need help.
Most organizations tend to focus on a single purpose with a standardized way of helping their communities in order to make it as equal and fair as they can. New Circles, however, has taken it upon themselves to go the extra mile and thought of a thorough concept to maximize the way in which they can help as well as the amount of people that they can help. This organization does not only help in the moment but they work to build a future for those who walk through their doors. Any new immigrants in Canada can tell you how hard it is coming to a new country with next to nothing and being treated as such. However, New Circles provides those within their community, whether that be an immigrant, a neighbour, a refugee, or so forth, with the tools they need to rebuild their lives while giving them the respect and dignity they deserve. These tools include skill training such as hands-on retail and customer service skills or business office skills that prepare individuals for job searching. New Circles also provides the community with settlement support services that include childcare, housing, employment counseling and legal help with their immigration status. Another popular service they provide is a clothing bank unlike any other. Their clothing bank does not randomly assign what they would be receiving, instead creating a retail environment for them to have the power to choose what they would like to get – especially important for families with kids.
To start off our day at New Circles, we were provided with an information and training session for volunteers. In this session we learned about the history and future of the organization, services, safety procedures, and what our role as volunteers would look like. The session was followed by a tour of the clothing bank, GLOW (Gently Loved Outfits to Wear), where would we working, as well as some background knowledge on how the operations run smoothly. At this point we were each lead to different areas of GLOW and all given different tasks and responsibilities. GLOW is divided into various departments, including kids, women’s, men’s, shoes, and accessories sections – all of which were organized by type and size. I was initially zoned in the men’s pants section, however, after reorganizing and sizing the rack I was relocated into the accessories section. This is where I spent most of my time sorting, organizing, and rearranging the display of goods. Since the accessory section was located directly by the register desk and the kids play zone, I mainly interacted with younger children and customers who were starting to prepare for the harsh Canadian winter.
The positioning of the accessory section also meant that it was the section people tampered the most with. As not just a clothing retail employee but someone who is easily fixated on order and symmetry, it was so satisfying to be able to fix the cluttered zone. I was given full range of how to go about my task of organizing, so I decided to attempt to make it as easily maintainable as accessible to ensure improved functionality going forward. In order to accomplish this, I had to use my judgement to best sort through all of the items and classify them into groups of equal or similar styles, textures, lengths/sizes, and colors. Having a better understanding of the space, I rehung all the items accordingly. I also rearranged the peg hooks to be symmetrical and give customers enough space to look at one rack without completely tumbling over the next. At GLOW they had quite a number of hats – ranging from toques, to ball caps, to summer hats, which prompted me to give the most focus and space to these pieces to ensure customers notice the wide array available. Thanks to my background in fashion retail as a merchandiser, I categorized the goods in the order that most retail stores would merchandize their products, while also taking note of how popular some categories were over others in order to maximize the exposure of other goods that seem to be in excess. To conclude my work at GLOW I went around the floor collecting and sorting all the empty hangers to the backroom.
I am extremely thankful for the opportunity to volunteer with New Circles. Personally, I carry a very hectic schedule and this opportunity made me remember the struggles that my family and I first experienced ten years ago, which is very humbling. It is very easy to get lost in the day-to-day stuff and forget all that we have and can easily acquire. When my family and I first came to Canada, we had to start from zero and I remember how hard it was for my parents to settle down, find somewhere for us to live, and finding a way to provide us with all we needed – especially for the harsh weather. I remember how hard it was for them to find a job because no one cared about all the experience they had or what rank they were at back home, all they cared about was what you had done in Canada. The fact that New Circles is helping so many new immigrants integrate themselves into the community is outstanding because they see the flaw in the system and work to be a part of the solution. I can tell you that the work being done by this organization is beyond compare and will forever be appreciated by those they help. The clothing bank that they turned into a retail experience is astounding since they are giving families and individuals shame-free help. They can let their kids run around and choose what they like and want to wear, making them feel like it was bought just for them and not making them feel any less than the other kids at school. The same goes for the adults, giving them the pride that they aren’t just taking handouts from people that pity them. Even while I was at GLOW I overheard conversations and most notably shared a conversation with a customer who spoke Spanish who told me how overwhelmed with gratitude they were with the whole concept of GLOW and the fact that it makes them feel like they are not alone and can ask for help without seeming weak. I had a couple of little kids coming up to me asking for help to reach things to then watch them run to their parents and ask if they could have it, seeing the look of relief in their parents eyes that they didn’t have to deny or say “no I can't get that for you” again made the whole experience unforgettable.
Working with this organization really put into perspective how much a single action can have such a resonating impact on someone. This experience has encouraged me to volunteer again around my community to give back to those who need help.
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