Homeless Women Often Can't Afford Bras. So This Advocate Donated Over 1,000 Of Them

[Liberal_in_LA]

Homeless Women Often Can't Afford Bras. So This Advocate Donated Over 1,000 Of Them



Homeless shelters often get loads of clothing donations, but nowhere near enough undergarments, which leaves women in need without bras and feeling uncomfortable, ashamed and undignified.

“There’s still a stigma around periods and bras. It’s taboo and sexualized,” Dana Marlowe, an advocate for homeless women, told The Huffington Post. “Bras are so essential for women: for health, self-esteem, employment and more.”

After losing a significant amount of weight recently, Marlowe, a principal partner at a consulting firm, was excited to purchase new clothes, but was despondent about the amount of money she’d have to spend on new bras. And when Marlowe learned that women in need often go completely without undergarments because they can’t afford them and they don’t typically get donated, she launched a collection drive this past summer.

Those efforts paid off this week when Marlowe dropped off more than 1,000 bras to Thrive DC, a Washington, D.C., group that works to prevent and end homelessness.

“I lamented the cost of new ones and the good quality of my existing, now ill-fitting bras,” Marlowe said. “Then it clicked, here I was, a woman with a comfortable lifestyle, complaining.”



http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/homeless-women-cant-afford-bras-so-this-advocate-donated-over-1000-of-them_5637c7e3e4b0631799135285

[femmocrat]

1. Great idea.

I didn't know they took bras. I could probably give them another thousand, because I must have bought that many (over the years) that are uncomfortable! And they are ridiculously over-priced.

[procon]

7. There is definitely a need.

Especially for larger women who really need good support bras. Those are very expensive. Also women who need nursing bras, or mastectomy bras, which are even more expensive. It seems like this would be a good project for brands that manufacture underwear, or stores that get rid of their discontinued and overstocked merchandise. They could donate those products to groups assisting poor women and get a tax write off and some good publicity for their charity outreach.

[Starry Messenger]

2. k&r

[bkkyosemite]

3. Women and men need homes even, tiny ones, now...homeless

should not be homeless

[KamaAina]

4. Shelters need socks, too.

Especially with winter coming on.

A friend of Mom's once christened all the socks that come out of the dryer by themselves "Socks Without Partners". Perhaps this is their calling.

[Iggo]

5. That's exactly what I came here to post.

Socks are one of the least donated items.

[lumberjack_jeff]

6. Exactly. n/t

[gwheezie]

8. We send our ladies out with a care package

When we discharge our women to the shelter they go with a cimb, soap, toothbrush,toothpaste, package of underpants 2 bras and a package of sanitary napkins.

[Liberal_in_LA]

10. Wonderful

[smirkymonkey]

9. Good idea! Bras are ridiculously expensive.

Actually, all undergarments are for women these days. It amazes me how much they charge for basic necessities.