HanesBrands, the parent company of Wonderbra, has stepped forward to donate undergarments to a Montreal women’s shelter, citing a Global News story that highlighted the organization’s desperate need for underwear.
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“I had seen the article and it moved me,” said Marianne Cobb, general manager at HanesBrands Canada.
“I said, ‘hey, we are one of the largest global suppliers of women’s and kids underwear and intimates. I felt it was something we can do to give back.”
Logifem is a shelter located in Little Burgundy in Montreal’s Sud-Ouest.
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At any given time, it houses 20 women — a “revolving population” of people who can stay up to a year until they’re ready to move on.
There are also 14 women in a transitional apartment program, where they can stay up to three years.
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“Sometimes, women come to us with very little,” Sally Richmond, director of Logifem told Global News last week.
“Obviously, we don’t want to give out used underwear.”
Though many people are quick to donate old clothes, Richmond explained most forget that people in need also need undergarments.
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“It’s not that they don’t want to donate, but they don’t realize this is something they [the women] need.”
Though she now lives in Winston Salem, N.C., Cobb is originally from Montreal and says she is still very in touch with the community.
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“Giving back to the community is part of our corporate responsibility,” she told Global News.
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The company donated an assortment of undergarments for women, size extra small to triple-extra large, and children, size small to extra large.
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Richmond told Global News she was very excited to hear about the donation, calling the news “fantastic.”
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Richmond points out there are many reasons why women end up at the shelter — including domestic violence, mental health, physical ailments, financial impact from divorce and general isolation.
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“Many of us are lucky enough to have solid support networks in terms of family and friends, so when we go through difficult times, we have people who care for us,” she said.
“They don’t have this support network.”
Anyone looking to donate new underwear to the organization can mail them to CP 72108, 151 Atwater, Montreal, H3J 2Z6 or call 514-939-3172 to arrange a drop-off.
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The shelter keeps its location private in order to protect the people it serves.
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