BAD recycles gently used bras and collects new underpants and then donates them to local shelters, clothing and career closets and anywhere where women can use the SUPPORT of a well-fitting bra.
- Communi-TEA 2023, our free luncheon and afternoon of inspiration and respite for women in need provided an inspirational experience for women from 8 non-profits; Downtown Streets Team, HomeFirst, onRoute22 alumnae, Latinas Contra Cancer, Lifted Spirits, Recovery Cafe, Sacred Heart Community Service and Next Door Solutions for Domestic Violence. Representatives from Health and Wellness Providers tabled and the event and Revelation in Fit provided bra fittings.
- BAD collaborated with The Farmworkers Caravan and together collected 1000 plus bras for women working in the fields to provide us with fresh food on our tables
- We helped Healthy Horizons Breastfeeding Center to distribute 619 bras to women staying at CityTeam's Heritage Home, CityTeam community services and Parisi House on the Hill
BAD collects and distributes bras to clothing closets, shelters, women living outside and other places where women do not have access to clean and supportive bras. We attend distribution events including Project Homeless Connect, HomeFirst cold weather shelters and special emergency distributions such as the event for the 2017 flood victims. We collaborate with other organizations such as the Farmworkers Caravan, San Jose State Spartan Athletics, Gifts for Teens, and Presentation High School. For the past two years we have done Operation Sports Bra, providing new sports bras for foster youth and girls experiencing homelessness. Through-out the year hundreds of bras are delivered to agencies around the Bay Area, in fact we have donated well over 50,000 bras since 2009 thanks to the help of compassionate women!
Ongoing Be a Dear and Donate a Brassiere Initiatives
Donate Bras and Undergarments
Gently used and new bras are needed as well as new panties. Bras should be clean, unstained, with straps and no poking underwires. Please attach the hooks when donating. At this time we ask you to not bring donations to the clubhouse. For drop off locations please email BAD@sjwomansclub.org or get more details on how to donate.
Corporate Sponsors
- Y and D: https://yandwofficial.com
- Amazon Returns Program
- The Little Bra Company: https://www.thelittlebracompany.com
Communi-TEA 2023
BAD partners with the Ladies Who Do Lunch Group of SJWC and community members to present Communi-TEA; a luncheon, a resource fair, The Family Album Project portraits, a bra distribution and bra fitting. Communi-TEA brings positivity, inspiration, music, poetry and SWAG for 100 plus women who utilize the services of agencies such as Downtown Streets Team, onRoute22, Sacred Heart Community Service, Veteran's Home, LifeMoves, HomeFirst Services, YWCA, and Next Door Solutions for Domestic Violence and Recovery Cafe.
- Volunteer by emailing bad@sjwomansclub.org or call Eileen Hunter: 650-862-1375
- Setup - Thursday April 27 from 3:30 - 7:30 pm
- Setup - Friday April 28 from 9:00 - 10:30 am
- Greeters, Plating, Serving food Friday April 28 10:30 - 2:30 pm
- Concierges Friday April 28 10:15 - 2:30 pm
- Bra Distribution Friday April 28 1:30 - 3:30 pm
- Cleanup Friday April 28 3:30 - 5:30 pm
- Donate any amount
- Click the Donate button at sjwomansclub.org and select “Be a Dear and Donate a Brassiere Group/Bra Bank” in the selection box
- Sponsor a table for $200 and 6 women can attend with a female staff member of support from their organization
2023 Sponsors:
- Santa Clara County Supervisor Otto Lee, URJGENT grant
- Almaden Valley Women's Club
- YandW Bras
- Gardner Health Services
- Past Sponsors:
- Office of Women’s Policy - Santa Clara County, Commission on the Status of Women
- The HealthTrust
- THIRDLOVE
- LUXIE
- Strickland Family LLC
- Gardner Health Services
Bra Bank
In 2017 we started the BAD BRA Bank. Wearing a well-fitting bra increases a woman’s self-esteem and a bra is critical for job interviews, health and overall dignity. Bras aren’t cheap, and when women are on tight budgets, they often can’t afford to buy or replace them. Some women need special fittings due to their size and we can’t maintain an inventory of every size. Your donations supports our “BAD Bra Bank”, a fund that allows us to purchase two bras for a woman in need. We work with case manager who contact us when they meet a woman who needs our help.
Operation Sports Bra
The BAD girls have collaborated with groups at high schools, universities, sports teams and groups that promote volunteerism. In 2021 “Operations Sports Bra: Youth SUPPORTING Youth” collected 785 NEW Sports Bras. All bras were donated to nonprofits that work with the economically disadvantaged including Bill Wilson Center, Gifts for Teens, Spartan Cares Food Pantry and Larkin Street Youth Services. San Jose State University (SJSU) Spartans, Presentation High School, Girl Scouts of Northern California, Evergreen High School, and National Charity League contributed bras to make this event a success.
In October and November of 2022 Be a Dear and Donate a Brassiere (BAD) partnered with San Jose State University (SJSU) Spartans for our 2nd Operation Sports Bra. We are still tallying the number and distributing the donations. Presentation High School and Girl Scouts of Northern California participated with SJSU this year.
Group History
Be a Dear was founded in 2009 by club members Eileen Hunter, Lisa Collins and Beverly Williams. Before joining the SJWC in 2014, they had already collected more than 10,000 bras for local charities! The number of bras collected today is over 50,000.
Keep up with Be a Dear on their Facebook site.
