Donated Suits Improve Men's Chances for Employment

Moores' Canadian Suit Drive helps jobless men get back into the workforce

TORONTO, July 2, 2014 /CNW/ - Chris, Eric and Mahmud are just three of thousands of Canadian men who have found themselves facing hard times, even harder choices and a limited amount of options when finding employment. This past April alone, there were 744,600 reported cases of unemployed men across Canada and the need to help these men is a very real issue.

Moores' Canadian Suit Drive provides free suits and professional clothing to men seeking to turn their lives around by working directly with more than 60 local recipient organizations across Canada that provide job readiness programs for men seeking employment. As the following recipient stories suggest, the Suit Drive effort can make a significant difference to a man's future.

Canadian Suit Drive recipient Eric finally achieved his goal of completing Teachers College but that left him in the midst of difficult financial times where he had a dated wardrobe and no way to make a great first impression in a job interview. After receiving professional clothing from Dress Your Best in Toronto, an organization dedicated to promoting the economic independence of disadvantaged men through the provision of high quality professional apparel for job interviews and employment, he was able to interview with confidence and secure a teaching job with a great career ahead of him. He constantly reminds himself that "it's okay to ask for help."

Mahmud was equipped with a Master's degree in Financial Economics. He moved to Canada in September from Bangladesh and discovered the Canadian Suit Drive program while looking for work. He received a suit for upcoming job interviews and succeeded in landing his dream job.

Armed with determination and a positive attitude, a suit was one of the only things standing in these men's ways of making a great first impression.

"We may not realize how much confidence a suit can give, but sometimes that small act of donating a suit to someone in need hoping to transition back into the workplace can make all the difference," says Paige Souter, Executive Director at Dress Your Best in Toronto.

"You can imagine the difference looking and feeling good has on self-assurance. In the case of Chris, strong support and a donated suit helped turn his attention away from a negative path and armed him with a self-confidence he never felt before. He says receiving a suit was life-changing. He now believes he belongs in a business environment, a place where people respect him," adds Souter.

Now in its fifth year, Moores' Canadian Suit Drive runs from July 1-31. Canadians can donate men's suits, shirts, jackets, pants, ties, belts and shoes as well as women's professional clothing at any of the more than 100 Moores' stores across Canada. As a thank you for donating, customers will receive 50 per cent off their next purchase from Moores (excluding shoes, clearance, and Exceptional Value items). For more information, visit www.canadiansuitdrive.com.

To help spread the word, Moores is asking consumers to post about the Canadian Suit Drive on social media.  Moores will donate $1 (up to $10,000) each time consumers do one or more of the following:

1.         Follow @MooresClothing on Twitter
2.         Tweet #SuitDrive
3.         Share any of the CSD videos found on www.canadiansuitdrive.com

"We'd like to help 50,000 Chris, Eric and Mahmud's, and it starts with a little help in the right direction. We believe providing the right clothing helps afford them the dignity and confidence to transition back into the workforce," says Mike McFarland, Director of Human Resources and Benefits at Moores Clothing for Men.

About Moores Clothing For Men
Launched in 1980, Moores Clothing for Men is the leading national retailer of men's business attire in Canada with over 100 stores.  Moores' stores carry a full selection of suits, sport coats, furnishings and accessories in exclusive and non-exclusive merchandise brands.  Moores is also the largest provider of tuxedo rentals in Canada.  For additional information on Moores Clothing for Men, please visit www.mooresclothing.com or follow us on Facebook and @MooresClothing.

Image with caption: "Moores' Canadian Suit Drive recipients Mahmud, Eric and Chris. (CNW Group/Moores Clothing For Men c/o MW Media Group)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140702_C2533_PHOTO_EN_4068.jpg

SOURCE: Moores Clothing For Men c/o MW Media Group

For further information: Media Contacts: Lisa Raffaele, M: [phone], [email protected]; Erin McKay, M: [phone], [email protected]