Empowering women in all stages is a goal for the international Dress for Success organization, as the 91大黄鸭 chapter is looking for volunteers to help expand its reach to women throughout the Central Okanagan.

The mission of Dress for Success is to empower women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire and the development tools to help women thrive in work and in life.

Dress for Success 91大黄鸭 (DFS91大黄鸭) started in 2019 and has had a lot of success in creating sand strengthening that network.

Tannis Henderson, the program coordinator of DFS91大黄鸭, is an active 鈥渟ingle mom to two amazing humans and one dog.鈥�

Originally from Edmonton, Tannis has made her home in Syilx territory for two years.

In addition to her work with DFS91大黄鸭, she also owns two clothing boutiques and is the manager of the 91大黄鸭 showroom for an Edmonton-based clothing designer.

On top of that, she is also a certified RYT 200-hour yoga instructor and a board member of This Space Belongs to You, a local non-profit whose vision it is 鈥渢o provide safer, more inclusive space and resources for 2S/LGBTQIA+, and/or IBPOC people (12 to age 24) within the Syilx Okanagan.鈥�

Tannis has been in her current role for eight months. Prior to that, she volunteered as a mentor and to assist with a tech development project that helps them to streamline their processes.

She shares with us this week some of the reasons to be a part of this organization.

鈥淥ur volunteers change the lives of women and non-binary individuals in our community every day,鈥� explained Tannis. 鈥淭hey are the heart of our organization, and we would not be able to provide the programs and services we do without them.

鈥淲e are very fortunate to have a strong team of about 100 dedicated volunteers. We offer a variety of roles that are both short (event specific) and long term. All of our roles have flexible hours, and most roles are in-person.鈥�

Specific roles they are looking for mentors, committee members for the Watch Her Soar fashion show fundraiser, workshops facilitators and merchandisers. They also need two virtual volunteers that support administration and to be the bookkeeper.

Tannis is proud of the fact the organization empowers all women, not only their clients.

鈥淥ur volunteers, staff and donors are all deeply fulfilled and empowered through our work. One of my favourite things about our organization is how many clients continue to work with us as volunteers once they鈥檝e gained some stability with support from our programs. Our services work, they are provided with dignity and that鈥檚 why our clients and volunteers are our best ambassadors.

鈥淲e build women up and work in a supportive environment. We work with all volunteers individually to ensure that they don鈥檛 just fill a role, but that the role meets their needs and wants as well.鈥�

To volunteer with this great organization, look on the Volunteer Connector or their website www.dfskelowna.org. To contact Tannis, email programcoordinator@dfskelowna.org.

Follow them on Facebook and Instagram @dressforsuccesskelowna.