Over 30,000 Items Collected for Homeless Women at MardiBRAS Event
(C. Proxmire, Feb. 25, 2015)
An oft-forgotten need was met this month as people came together for Ferndale’s first MardiBRAS event. Over 30,000 personal care items were collected for homeless women in an evening that united people around a good, though often over-looked, cause.
The idea was simple. Bring in items for women, and get raffle tickets. Local businesses such as the WAB, Candlewick Shop, Modern Natural Baby, Mother Fletchers, Schram’s Mead, and over 75 others donated raffle items. The Loving Touch, hosts of the event, had pizza and drinks for sale, and Monique Herzig and Nan Kerr-Mueller did henna on the hands of guests.
The mountain of gifts was added up on Friday, totaling:
12,380 pads
7,572 tampons
10,668 wipes
410 bras
826 underwear
150 random toiletries
The items were divided between four organizations: All Worthy of Love, The Welcome Inn Day Center, Spiritual Life Center, and Renaissance Vineyard Church. In addition to the supplies, each group got $181 towards their efforts.
“Our Community came together for women who were often forgotten; to fill a need we so easily take for granted. This was a common comment. so many people stated that they never thought about the PERSONAL personal needs. I am proud to be from a city that really does care about their neighbor, even if that neighbor is mobile. Without the support of the Community and businesses (we had over 75 raffles!), MardiBRAS 2015 would not have been the success it was. My Co-Organizers and I could not be happier with the feedback from everyone and we look forward to MardiBRAS 2016 being every bit the success our inaugural year has been,” said Nichole Bruster who was part of a group of volunteers organizing the event.
She reminds people that “Need doesn’t last only through the winter, please consider supporting each of the groups throughout the year.”
Danielle Winne, another of the event’s organizers, was in awe of the results of MardiBRAS. “I am so happy to say I helped. MardiBRAS was a community effort that brought out the best in all of us. It reminded me to be grateful always for everything I have.”
Note: This story has been updated to remove the names of volunteers who wished to not be identified.