Local non-profit bares all to raise funds in new clothing donation campaign

People are used to the idea of donating their unwanted clothing and household items, but a local NPO is encouraging them to even donate the clothes off their back in their latest video campaign. posAbilities, an organization focused on improving the lives of people with developmental disabilities, has begun uploading a series of videos with naked TV/YouTube personality Josh Rimer. The local actor bared all for the campaign in hopes of getting people interested in making donations to their Clothes Drop program.

“posAbilities is a great organization that really makes a difference to the lives of the people they serve” says Rimer, who has collaborated with posAbilities on videos in the past. “We wanted to do something fun and a bit shocking that would get people to pay attention and think about donating their used clothing.”

The initial idea first came through a Simon Fraser University co-op student who brought it forward as a possible way to get interest in their new clothing drive initiative. “The idea seemed a bit outrageous, but we wanted to catch the interest of business owners and the general public,” says Monique Nelson, Director of Community Engagement at posAbilities. “It’s great having team members like Stefanie Costales, who is passionate about our mission and engaging new audiences to connect with us.”

Jennifer Oliver, Manager of Innovation for the Association adds, “We’d like to get everyone thinking of us when doing their Spring cleaning, downsizing, and decluttering. The videos are fun taster for the experience people or groups can expect from their partnership with us.”  Through a well-developed system for bin maintenance and collection processes, posAbilities offers flexible solutions for getting rid of unwanted items. “We’re really proud of the work we are doing in community with other NPOs – helping them fundraise as well, and with businesses looking to demonstrate their corporate social responsibility through the Burnaby Board of Trade’s Pledge for Sustainability Initiative.”

The first video was uploaded this morning and features Rimer running around an office without any clothes on, pleading with a few unsuspecting employees to donate theirs. A second video set in a multi-unit residence will be uploaded tomorrow, followed by a third one in a laundromat the next day. The series will finish with a general information video about the program on Friday, where Rimer will finally be fully clothed.

See the first video, and the following ones as they are uploaded, at www.youtube.com/posAbilitiesCA.