A fundraising night of memoir about the role of bras in our lives
Imagine you are a woman who is experiencing domestic violence. You need to leave home in the middle of the night. You can’t risk taking anything. You just go.
Imagine you are a woman who is homeless. You might be wearing everything you own.
Imagine you are a woman who has a home, but you can only afford to pay your rent. One bout of the flu will put you out of work for a week and change that.
In times like these, social services understandably focus on the highest priorities: safe shelter and food. Thrift shops might provide clothing, but they are not usually allowed to sell or give away “intimate” clothing items, such as bras.
Yet, for comfort and dignity, a bra is essential to many women. Imagine you are a woman who has a job interview, but does not have a bra. You might feel you need to hide yourself somehow, or skip the interview altogether.
In 2016, author, editor, and teacher Marion Roach Smith learned about this hidden need in the area of Troy, New York, from someone at the YMCA there. Marion decided to start a foundation called BraVa!
The idea was that writers would submit a piece about the role of bras in their lives. Audience members would donate a new bra donation as part of the ticket price. The community came out in droves. It became an annual event. So far, BraVa! has collected and distributed more than 4,725 new bras to women in the greater Capital region.
On November 5, I’ll be driving 3 ½ hours to read a shortened version of my story, “Orange Soda,” which was selected by the BraVa! jury, to an audience at the Arts Center of the Capital Region in Troy, New York. I’ll also be donating a new bra. It will be my honor.
You can read the official press release, donate, and buy tickets for this year’s event HERE.