BRAWS: Bringing Resources to Aid Women's Shelter (www.BRAWS.org) is a volunteer-driven, community-based 501(c)(3) organization that supports struggling women, teenagers, and preteen girls living in local homeless and transitional housing shelters by providing new bras, unopened packages of underwear, and sealed boxes of tampons, pads, and pantyliners.
The majority of individuals in a homeless shelter at any given time are women and their children. These women are typically victims of domestic violence and are fleeing an abusive home looking to start over in a safe environment. Many other women in shelters are single mothers who lost their jobs due to unforeseen circumstances and need help to get back on their feet. Regardless of the situation that led these women to homelessness, they need our support - both physical and emotional - to transition to a better life for themselves and their children.
I support BRAWS because they give NEW bras, NEW underwear, and NEW boxes of tampons and pads to support the well being of these many women and girls. Unbeknownst to most people, these are some of the most requested critical needs by women in shelters. Bras and feminine hygiene products are rarely donated, expensive items for a shelter to replenish, and not covered by food stamps. Insufficient access to these items often leads to unsanitary conditions, a lack of confidence, and major health problems.
In the last 10 months, BRAWS has already donated over 1,500 new bras and underwear, as well as tens of thousands of feminine hygiene products to women, teenage, and pre-teen girls in 15 local shelters. They are always in need of in-kind and financial contributions to replenish these shelters, as well as support the many other shelters in the Greater DC area that they have not yet been able to serve.
Review from #MyGivingStory