Neighbor to Neighbor’s ‘Mardi Bra’, a Success

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Volunteers Kirstie Benedict and Lucy Langley assisting a client at Neighbor to Neighbor.
Volunteers Kirstie Benedict and Lucy Langley assisting a client at Neighbor to Neighbor.

The mission of “The Undies Project” was clear: collect as many donations of new and gently used bras during “Mardi Bra” week as possible. The Greenwich community far surpassed expectations by donating over 750 bras during this inaugural event that took place Feb. 2 to 9. And donations are still coming in.

“Our aim was not only to collect bras for those in need, but to also educate women in the community that they can donate their unwanted bras,” said Laura Delaflor, Co-Founder of The Undies Project. “Most people do not even think of recycling their used bras in this way, and most of us take new, clean underwear for granted. We are starting some interesting discussions about a sensitive subject that people haven’t even thought about before.”

Delaflor, and her friend Lucy Langley, Co-Founded The Undies Project in 2015 after recognizing that underwear is the most under-donated, and most needed, item of clothing. “No one should be deprived of the simple, daily necessity of clean underwear”, Langley said. “Hygiene and physical comfort is only a part of this basic human need. It also provides dignity and self esteem.”

The Undies Project was set up with the help of Neighbor to Neighbor to fulfill this need. Neighbor to Neighbor serves 2,600 clients in the Port Chester, Greenwich and Stamford areas. All the bras collected during “Mardi Bra” will be donated, free of charge, to Neighbor to Neighbor clients. Langley & Delaflor have improvised a system to distribute the bras by hanging them in bags on a clothing rail at Neighbor to Neighbor. Volunteers help the clients pick out a bra that fits them.

Langley said, “Our challenge now is to distribute over 750 bras! Space is a little limited and it is going to take us several weeks to hand out all the bras. But this is a good problem to have. We are excited to start our next drive for men’s, women’s and children’s underwear later this year”.

“On behalf of The Undies Project and Neighbor to Neighbor we want to thank the community for their kindness!,” said Delaflor.

To learn more about The Undies Project, visit theundiesproject.com, or contact Lucy and Laura at lucy@theundiesproject.com or laura@theundiesproject.com. Product donations can be made at Neighbor to Neighbor, 248 East Putnam Avenue, Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Thursdays 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

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