Free the Girls! Collecting Bras to Change Lives

September 17, 2016

Soroptimist La Conner members with some of the hundreds of bras collected for the “Free The Girls” organization.

By Marilynn Olson (Photo by Jane Godfrey)

Soroptimist International of La Conner sends bras to “Free The Girls,” a non-profit organization that provides bras for rescued victims of human trafficking.

Victims of human trafficking are often forced into prostitution at an early age. Girls fortunate enough to find their way to safe houses are taught skills to help them earn money to support themselves and their own children.

There is a cottage industry that gives these young women their own inventory of bras, a desired commodity, to sell on the streets of their community.

Soroptimist La Conner collects bras and ships them to a sorting facility in Chesterton, Indiana. From there they are sent to Mozambique, Uganda, and El Salvador and soon to more areas in Africa and Central America.

Donations of new and gently used bras are collected at Vintage La Conner to aid this cottage industry effort. Combined with other donations throughout the U.S., thousands of bras have been collected and distributed. This is an on-going project.

New (with tags) and clean, gently used bras may be brought to Vintage La Conner for future distribution to “Free The Girls.”

Jo Anne Mason

Regional

Soroptimist International of La Conner is part of the Northwestern Region of Soroptimist, which includes clubs in Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Northern Idaho, and Montana. The name Soroptimist means “Best for Women” and that is what this organization strives to achieve. Each club uses its time, talents, and energy to improve the lives of women and girls in their respective communities through programs that lead to social and economic empowerment.

For example, it is the goal of the Soroptimists STOP Trafficking program to raise awareness about sex trafficking. Human Trafficking is the second largest and fastest growing criminal industry in the world, and affects all our communities throughout the northwest region. Awareness of this modern day slavery is paramount to preventing this illegal situation from growing and prospering.

National

Soroptimist International of the Americas is committed to:

The belief that all women deserve to lead full and productive lives
Women helping women
International diversity and fellowship

SIA ’s major project is the Live Your Dream Award, a major educational program to assist women who are primary financial support for their families, by giving them the resources they need to improve their education, skills and employment prospects.

Other programs include the Dream It, Be It: Career Support for Girls program, the Stop Trafficking Project, Soroptimist Workplace Campaign to End Domestic Violence, and the Violet Richardson Award.

Learn more about Soroptimist International of the Americas.

International

Soroptimist is a global volunteer organization working to improve the lives of women and girls through programs leading to social and economic empowerment. With over 190,000 members in over 120 countries, Soroptimist has consultative status with the Economic and Social Council at the United Nations and is a recognized authority on matters that women value most.

Please contact us for more information on joining Soroptimists, and making a difference!