Support ladies in the Pacific

Melia Blackwood is calling on Western BOP ladies to donate old, spare, broken bras to ladies in the Pacific. Photo: Merle Cave.

Western Bay of Plenty women are being called on to dig deep into their underwear drawers and donate their old, unused, and ill-fitting bras to uplift the lives of ladies across the Pacific.

Melia Blackwood has been collecting bras for Project Uplift for six years – this year's she's made her Te Puna-based workplace, KiwiSpan, a dedicated drop-off point for donated bras.

Project Uplift, a charity project, began in Australia in 2004 and has been operating in New Zealand since 2012. Volunteers collect donated bras, which are sent to Christchurch or Auckland where they are sorted and packed.

Most bras collected in NZ go – on request – to various aid organisations in Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu and fellow Pacific Islands for distribution to local women.

According to Project Uplift, in the Pacific bras can be unaffordable and difficult to obtain – yet they are important because they not only offer dignity, comfort and support, but help prevent rashes and fungal infections by allowing air circulation.

Melia, who started collecting for Project Uplift when living in Kapiti five years ago, says there are women out there who have never owned a bra before.

'It is such a needy cause, how would I not get involved? From a young age, growing up in NZ – at about 12 years old – you get a bra and it sort of gives you that little bit of confidence and security.

'Puberty is awkward, so having something that shelters this slightly helps you be a bit more comfortable as a female. To grow up in a world where it is not even an option to own a bra – for me, this is why I wanted to get involved.

'You hear about women who have to breastfed without a maternity bra – I've had three children, and boobs are really heavy when they are full of milk,” laughs Melia. 'So having a bra that can support you when you're breastfeeding is priceless, it is worth its weight in gold.”

Melia is aiming to collect 1000 bra-related items in the Western BOP this year for Project Uplift. She's wants get hold of maternity, sports bras, normal bras, surgical bras and swimwear. 'All sizes are highly valued and anything in good condition would be amazing – however, even broken bras can be dismantled and used for parts like bra extenders.”

There is also a need for mastectomy bras. 'From the women I know, when you've had one or both breasts removed there is sometimes a feeling of being incomplete; having a mastectomy bra offers dignity to what is an immensely challenging situation.

'So if there are people who have spare mastectomy bras they've grown out of, or their shape has changed, we would greatly appreciate these being donated too.”

Western BOP's Project Uplift donations drop-off points are: Breast Cancer Support, 53 Fraser St, Tauranga; 668 Papamoa Beach Rd; Melia's workplace: KiwiSpan 1 Loop Rd, Te Puna; or Athenree Food Exchange, which Melia checks regularly or Melia's home, Contact Melia to arrange a drop-off on 027 9333079.

Find out more: www.projectuplift.org.nz or search ‘Project Uplift' on Facebook.

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