I was 12 years old in 1959. I remember that year of excitement well: My first bra, my first period. Ah, womanhood achieved!
For me, puberty proved to be an exciting transition. That is not the case for countless young girls who don’t have access to bras or feminine-hygiene products because they or their families cannot afford them. These pre-teens and teens are not the only in-need female population “going without” due to financial constraints. Included are unhoused women, women recently released from prison, female migrant field workers, and women who are victims of assault. The need is great.
In the Beginning
To counter that need, enter I Support the Girls – Tampa Bay (ISTG-TB), a nonprofit thriving through the passionate and robust efforts of its affiliate director, Nancy Blount. She originated I Support the Girls – Tampa Bay approximately five years ago, thanks to a suggestion from her husband.
Blount is the rock on which ISTG-TB was founded. The organization is driven by kindness and compassion and strives to offer dignity to all.
“Women should not have to choose between buying tampons or buying food,” Blount says. Unfortunately, this at-risk female population is forced to make choices like that every day. Purchasing their children’s school uniforms always supersedes replacing their own personal undergarments.”
Making Positive Inroads
Since its inception in 2019, ISTG-TB has distributed over 450,000 menstrual hygiene products, 29,000 bras, and 17,000 pairs of underwear. Amazingly, Blount and other volunteers work with 230 local service agencies and organizations. Group homes, domestic-violence shelters, schools, sexual-assault survivor agencies, disaster situations, and the Plant City migrant population: Name the need and ISTG-TB is here to help.
I Support the Girls – Tampa Bay is one of 50 affiliates nationwide. “It’s important to note that we collect local donations and then distribute them locally,” says Blount, who wears many ISTG-TB hats. She drives donation requests, oversees all inventory, organizes distribution efforts, and acts as volunteer coordinator. In sum, Nancy Blount is the head, heart, hands, and soul of I Support the Girls – Tampa Bay.
How to Help – Part 1
ISTG-TB is always seeking corporations and schools to host donation drives. This type of mass-collection site is critical to the success of the ISTG-TB mission, which is simply to provide bras, new underwear and hygiene products to various and diverse at-risk female populations. Even small businesses can participate by becoming donation dropoff sites.
Individual volunteers assist ISTG-TB by taking home donated bras and sorting them by size, or by assembling the much-appreciated self-care period packs. Volunteers are needed to help at the numerous bra-fitting events held at schools or shelters. Volunteers also can help by making runs to drop off or pick up donated items. (If you have a teenager who needs volunteer hours, just contact Nancy Blount.)
How to Help – Part 2
In addition, ISTG-TB needs donated items such as feminine-hygiene products of all kinds, gently used or new traditional or sports bras, and new underwear. Donations of makeup bags, cosmetics, travel-size toiletries, body lotion, lip balm, and hair accessories are greatly appreciated; these items go into the period packs as surprise goodies for the women. If undecided as to what to donate, just consult the I Support the Girls – Tampa Bay wish list on Amazon via its designated QR code below, or visit the organization’s Facebook page.
If you or your business would like more information on hosting a donation drive, offering a donation dropoff site, or volunteering for ISTG-TB, please contact Nancy Blount at [email protected] or call (727) 510-2263.
