By Eleanor Wilson
Narre Warren Charity BK 2 Basics is hoping to lift some weight off women’s shoulders with their ‘boobie blitz’ bra donation service.
The not-for-profit is calling for donations of new or near-new bras of all sizes.
“Working with thousands of women, you hear stories that some women are wearing the same maternity bras years later, or they can’t wear bras because they can’t afford it,” said BK 2 Basics founder Kelly Warren.
“As women we often put everyone else before us, but no woman should have to go without a bra”.
Kelly is using the charity’s Facebook page as a call-out platform for the blitz, with businesses and individuals across Melbourne offering to collect and wash bras ahead of the event.
Hampton Park resident Monica Soll is one community member who has offered her address as a drop-off point for the boobie blitz.
“I remember when I was in grade six and I was quite developed … it was my grade six teacher who went and bought my bras for me, because my mum wasn’t in the position to do so,” she said.
“If I can help in a small way by helping to be a drop-off point, washing some boobie holders, I’ll do what I can do because this cause touches me in many ways without me even realising.”
Other donation locations include Cranbourne, Narre Warren, Lilydale, Bayswater, Frankston, Carrum Downs, Berwick, Officer, Croydon, Bonbeach/Chelsea and Kooweerup.
The organisation, which also holds a number of other charitable initiatives including a community pantry, already has three to four pallets of bras ready for the blitz.
But Kelly wants the initiative to “cater to every bra size”.
“When you get a correctly fitting bra, you feel empowered, you’ve got more confidence and you feel like superwoman, and that’s what I want women to feel,” she said.
“I really want to wait until we get more sizing, especially the bigger sizes because we receive less of them.”
Kelly is also on the hunt for an appropriate venue to host the blitz.
“We’re still looking for the right venue. We want to make it fairly central as a lot of women only have access to public transport,” she said.
“We’ll have coffee, tea, maybe some muffins. A lot of professional bra fitters have offered their time for the event.”
“I just want to create an environment where women feel comfortable.”
To keep up to date with the BK 2 Basics Boobie Blitz, head to their Facebook page at facebook.com/BK-2-Basics-Melbourne-1367565603298891