BRAWS

Menstrual supplies and undergarments are expensive, omitted from social welfare programs, and often overlooked by community donors. Individuals experiencing homelessness, transitional housing, domestic violence, poverty, unemployment, single family households, and emergency situations often cannot access nor afford these supplies. As a consequence, menstruating individuals are often forced to use less than adequate methods to manage their menstruation, or do without completely. The result is often that women and girls will miss work and school during this time. As a solution to this problem, our organization, Bringing Resources to Aid Women’s Shelter (BRAWS), has distributed over two million menstrual supplies and undergarments to women and girls in crisis since January of 2015. Our mission is to bring dignity and empowerment to individuals in our community by providing access to these basic needs. BRAWS offers several programs that align with our mission: shelter tampon/pad delivery, undergarment distribution, school menstrual supply delivery, school & public facility dispensers, and advocacy & education. BRAWS works with 10 school districts and 21 counties in six states. In 2018, BRAWS served more than 5,000 women and girls via 81 school and shelter partners. This included 7,230 undergarments and 141,480 tampons and pads. Our free dispenser program was launched in 2018 with five installations and distributed more than 15,000 tampons and pads. Our goal is to increase attendance and improve academic performance of students experiencing poverty, homelessness, low-income situations & crisis. Also learn more about us at: www.facebook.com/BRAWSorg www.twitter.com/BRAWSorg www.instagram.com/BRAWSorg Or contact us at info@BRAWS.org