The Winnipeg Blue Bombers collaborate with a student-led organization to organize an underwear campaign.
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have collaborated with a student-led organization to collect new undergarments and donations for those in need.
From now until March 8, socks and underwear can be dropped donated in collection containers at the Bombers store. Those who give will get a 15% discount on items.
“The Bombers have been super generous for this project,” said Allison Balasko, one of the campaign’s organizers.
A group of University of Manitoba students founded the Underwearness Project in 2023 with the goal of addressing the chronic scarcity of underwear and socks, particularly for women. Donations are collected and delivered to Siloam Mission.
“We really want to make sure that we were addressing an existing need, not just going out there and helping out in ways that we thought might be helpful and may not necessarily be helpful,” said Hiwot Jonk.
Jonk said the support from community members has been warmly received.
“We had somebody offer to donate the underwear that he was wearing that day,” Jonk said. “As much as we appreciate people and their willingness to give the clothes off their back, they do have to be new items.”
New socks and undergarments can also be donated through a portal on the organization’s website or directly to Siloam Mission.
“The thing that brings people the most dignity is undergarments and a fresh feeling, clean, gives that sense of empowerment,” Balasko told the audience.
Balasko stated that Blue Bomber Dalton Schoen has been actively participating in the program, including a trip of Siloam Mission with the group on Friday.
“I think that it’s a great feeling to be able to show somebody, and I know Dalton is from the U.S., to share some of the pride and some of that community-driven initiative and to show off Siloam Mission in general,” she went on to say.
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