Zoe Morris, Kate Miele. Contributed photo
The Greenwich Jr United Way (GJrUW) partnered with The Undies Project (www.theundiesproject.org) to meet a critical human service need this past spring. In a little over a month teens raised $1,000 for The Undies Project which provides new undergarments to more than 11 agencies, including four Greenwich United Way partners: Kids in Crisis, Neighbor to Neighbor, Pacific House Shelter and YWCA of Greenwich Domestic Abuse Service. Greenwich Jr United Way teens organized several bake sales at Greenwich Academy and Greenwich High School, a Popsicle sale at Greenwich Country Day School and members at Brunswick visited retailers on Greenwich Avenue to form partnerships and brainstorm future fundraising events.
“I have really enjoyed being part of the Greenwich Jr United Way because I have been able to gain a better understanding of daily life and struggles of Greenwich families,” said Greenwich Academy rising Junior, Zoe Morris.
The inspiration to create The Undies Project came to Lucy Langley in 2014 while volunteering at Neighbor to Neighbor, a local non-profit organization serving people in need in Port Chester, NY, Stamford, CT and Greenwich, CT areas. Langley and her co-founder, Laura Delaflor, reached out to Greenwich United Way in March and the GJrUW was given the opportunity to help raise awareness and funds for this critical need.
Greenwich Junior United Way teens learned that underwear is the most under-donated, and most needed item of clothing. They were assigned the task to generate ideas to help meet this need and they began working together in April to meet the urgent need before summer break.
In addition to bake sales, teens created a video and posted a fundraising information page to the Greenwich United Way website (https://greenwichunitedway.org/greenwich-jr-united-way-helps-the-undies-project/).
The link to the page was used by teens to generate awareness for the cause through text messages and in group chats with peers and family members.
Greenwich teens in middle school and high school are welcome to join Greenwich Junior United Way meetings, located at the new Greenwich United Way office at 500 West Putnam Avenue, Suite 415 to learn more about human service related issues in the Greenwich community.
Email news tips to Greenwich Free Press editor Leslie.Yager@GreenwichFreePress.com
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