Dutchess Boutique Bra Drive Brings Support to At-Risk Women

There are certain things that a woman can't live without and a bra is one of them.

has come together with Mountain View-based Be a Dear and Donate a Brassiere to remind the public of this undergarment's importance, especially to those women in most need.

"People doing think about donating bras when they're looking to give," says Be a Dear founder Eileen Hunter. "Because for the women in the shelters, they left their homes with just the clothes on their backs. It's hard for them to get bras. They receive vouchers for thrift stores but they’re not their size."

It was more than a year ago that Hunter, along with two other women, Lisa Collins and Beverly Williams came up with the idea.

"It’s not only about the getting but about the giving," Hunter says. "Women tend to buy bras that don’t fit."

Hunter's grassroots organization is always looking for new partners, new charities to help, regardless of what they're doing that exact moment.

Hunter says it's almost like OCD.

And that's how she met Melanie Starr, owner of Dutchess Intimates Boutique.

"We are actually part of a walking group," Hunter begins. "We were walking in Campbell and I stopped in because I saw a bra store. That was over a year ago. I was surprised she called us.

"I think she’s really a go getter, so I’m sure its going wonderful."

Starr kept Hunter in mind since that first meeting and called her up to see if the two women could partner up during the month of October because of Breast Cancer Awareness.

"I know the importance of being properly supported," Starr says. "I just really wanted to help."

So many women are out there wearing ill-fitted bras or bras they were talked into buying, she says.

"We all have bras we don’t wear or use anymore," Starr says. "Instead of them going into the landfill, recycle them."

The drive has gotten nothing but positive feedback thus far, she says. On the drive's second day, Starr had 50 bras donated. She is currently up to 70 and hopes to reach her goal of 500 bras by the end of the month. Today marks the second week of the drive.

And as added incentive, for every bra donated, the donator will receive a ticket into a raffle. The grand prize: a new bra from Dutchess a month for a year.

"These bras are going to a great home," she says.

Be A Dear and Donate a Brassiere has collected and recycled more than 3,000 bras to women in need throughout the country.  

Anyone interested in donating their gently used bras or new underpants may do so by dropping them off at Dutchess Boutique, Curves in Campbell or by sending them to "Be a Dear and Donate a Brassiere," P.O. Box 1015, Mountain View, CA 94042-1015. 

For more information, email onebraone@gmail.com or visit
www.facebook.com/BeADearandDonateaBrassiere.