Bissell Centre seeks donations of new underwear for homeless
Drop your drawers. Ditch your gitch. Kick your knickers.
Whatever you call undergarments, Edmonton’s Bissell Centre wants some, and quickly.
The non-profit organization, which aids homeless Edmontonians, aims to collect 10,000 pieces of new underwear by Saturday, including bras, underpants, boxers and briefs.
With 21/2 days left in its sixth annual Drop Your Gonch campaign, the centre has collected about 2,600 new skivvies, but needs many more.
About 100 people visit the Bissell Centre daily to wash their clothes, participate in programs or use child care services, and many need new underwear, said Scarlet Bjornson, marketing and communications co-ordinator.
Access to clean underwear in good condition is a matter of basic human dignity, Bjornson said. Some clients have only one set, or none at all. For women especially, it’s a health issue, as wearing the same underwear for several days can lead to urinary tract or yeast infections, she said.
“We want them to feel like their best selves,” she said. “Imagine going to a job interview — the first one you’ve had in a long time — and you’re wearing three- or four-dayold underwear.”
Bras are particularly in demand, as they are expensive and it can be tricky to find one that fits well.
There are about 20 locations around the city listed on the Bissell Centre’s website where donors can drop off new underwear.
The final collection event is Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. in the centre’s community space at 10530 96 St. NW.
Donors with no time for shopping can also give cash online to the campaign.