Find Your Shovel: An initiative to help homeless youth led by Davey Muise
Words by Jennifer Boylen Photos by Jonathan Kemp
Davey Muise is the singer of post-hardcore band Vanna, a public speaker, and now the founder of a non-profit clothing brand. Shovel Brand and the find your shovel initiative is simple: The shovel is the thing you love most in the world-it digs you out of your problems. Once you dig yourself out, you still have your shovel. When you’re buried up to your neck in the stress and adversity in life, find the one thing, that shovel, that will dig you out. Then use it to help dig others out as well. Muise’s shovel is music, but he’s using his platform to take action way beyond that.
Muise has been through a lot in his life. From being abandoned during a police raid as a baby to suffering from depression, he found solace in playing music. But he also thrived on sharing his story in hopes of making a difference in the lives of children. His friend and fellow motivational speaker Mike Smith encouraged him to share his hardships knowing that it could change lives.
“It was during a time in my life where I was having a very large revelation and thought maybe that is why I’m here, maybe I’m here to share my story and what i’ve gone through with kids and if nothing else to make them feel comforted that someone has made it through something they are going through at the time,” Muise shared.
The shovel initiative came about accidentally during a conversation between Muise and Smith, and he wanted to use his platform as a musician and public speaker to do something bigger. Muise’s wife works at a Preble Street Teen Center in their home of Portland, Maine, and spending time with those kids sparked an idea. Those homeless kids are just victims of circumstance and not only do they want to go to school, get a job, and live like normal teenagers, but they are also battling with not having a home, he said. He spent years working on band merch and fashion is a passion of his, however he felt compelled to do more than just start a clothing line.
“Homelessness is a very big problem. 70% of homeless people are between the ages of 15 and 21 and my heart is with the kids and the youth, always,” he said. “I’ve always worked with them and a lot of times homelessness is misunderstood. A lot of these kids are born into situations that you and I couldn’t even imagine.”
Initially, Shovel Brand was simply a way to donate money and all the proceeds were going to the youth center in his hometown, but he did not stop there. Shortly after launching the brand, Muise sat down with his business partner to work out what it would look like for Shovel Brand to be a one-for-one operation. Muise wanted to create another garment for every piece sold and donate it straight to the youth center.
“The whole thing for me is a lot of people want to help, everybody wants to help, and sometimes because you don’t know how to help, you don’t help and opportunities pass you by,” Muise said.
He knows that every kid who goes to shows knows how to buy merch so making doing so and helping a great cause one in the same was a no brainer. He also knew that donating proceeds was a great endeavor, but being able to donate a whole new box of clothes to these kids was even better. Feeling good and looking good are not exclusive, he said, and by giving these kids new clothes, they have boosted confidence to go out and be successful.
“My hope is that if they look better, they’ll feel better and they’ll do better,” he said.
Not only does Shovel Brand have Muise and Vanna behind it, but also an extensive portion of the music industry. Many of Muise’s friends are already avid supporters like Derek DiScanio of State Champs, Kellin Quinn from Sleeping with Sirens, and more who have rallied behind the cause by promoting and wearing the branded shirts. Many others throughout Warped Tour this summer have also become familiar with the brand and its opportunities in the industry seem to be endless.
“It kind of closes the gap between [speaking in]schools and playing shows for me,” he said. “All people of all walks of life are like me and order this stuff. It’s not just musicians, it’s not just kids in high schools, it’s not just parents, it’s everybody that wants to help and it’s really cool and kind of overwhelming to a certain extent, but I’ll take it. I want as much support for this as possible.”
For now, Shovel Brand clothing is only being delivered to the original youth center in Portland, Maine but Muise already has his sights set on the future. Once the brand starts meeting monthly quotas, they are going to expand–hopefully to every state in the country. They already have Chicago, Phoenix, and San Diego lined up and ready to go for when that time comes. For now, the brand relies on word of mouth and people wearing and sharing the message, but the initiative is only going to grow from here. They are currently gearing up for a back to school release sometime next month. That may include more than just clothes, seeing as kids need backpacks and notebooks for school, Muise hinted. This new back to school line will also include a few collaborations for the first time. Moving forward, each season will have a new line because as the season changes kids need new clothes, he said.
“I want as much support for this as possible because once again this whole initiative has zero to do about me and 100% to do with kids,” he said. “It’s just 100% help; we just want to help people with their lives.”
Check out their site here and keep a lookout for new pieces coming soon. For everything bought, another goes to a homeless youth in need.
