The Women Behind Every Cover: Why I Built Rubber Soul Comfort as a Social Enterprise
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It started at the airport
I've been to the airport to welcome newcomer families at least 20 times. I've helped them carry their bags, driven them to their first apartment, and get them settled into their new home in Canada. Those first days are full of excitement as the families are so happy to be starting their new life here. But I've also seen how hard the first year can be. Life in Canada is expensive, and a family of four with only one person working has a tough road ahead.
Why the first year is so hard
Finding a job in your first year or two in Canada can be really difficult, especially for women. Many are still learning English. Many don't have a car yet to get to work. Many have young children at home. Yet so many of these women carry amazing skills. Some have been sewing and crafting their whole lives.
Work that fits their lives
When I started Rubber Soul Comfort, I wanted every cover to create a fair, meaningful job opportunity for these women. So I’ve hired them to handmake our hot water bottle covers. They get to work from home, at whatever hours fit their family’s schedule. They use the skills they already have. And they're proud to be part of a growing local business.
Why it matters for New Brunswick
Here's something I think about a lot. Many newcomers move to New Brunswick, and then they leave for bigger cities. To stay, families need meaningful work, and they need to feel part of a community. A small job can make a big difference. It brings income, confidence, and connection. It helps a family feel at home here, and choose to stay, which benefits all of us!
What you're holding
Each cover is soft, cozy, and machine washable. It slips onto our cat-shaped hot water bottle, made from 100% FSC-certified natural rubber, and keeps the warmth in longer. But it's also something more. It's the work of a woman building a new life in Fredericton, one stitch at a time.
Give a gift with a story
This holiday season, I invite you to give warmth that goes further. Every Cozy Cat hot water bottle with hand-made cover supports newcomer women right here in New Brunswick.
Questions
Who makes Rubber Soul Comfort covers?
Newcomer women in Fredericton, New Brunswick, who sew them from home.
Is Rubber Soul Comfort a social enterprise?
Yes. Every cover creates flexible, fairly paid work for newcomer women in their first years in Canada.
How does Rubber Soul Comfort connect with newcomer women?
Through the Multicultural Association of Fredericton, a non-profit that has supported newcomers since 1974.
Where can I buy a cover?
Online at rubbersoulcomfort.com, in stores in Fredericton and Oromocto, and at our holiday markets.