thanks for visiting our site!

BRAWS mission is to bring dignity and empowerment to women and girls living in shelters by providing new, personally fitted undergarments and menstrual supplies.   In 2018, we were able to serve over 80 shelters and schools, help 6,000 women and girls, reach: 21 counties, 10 school districts, 6 states, and distribute over two million new and unopened pads, tampons, underwear and bras.  Learn more HERE or scroll down to see our latest happenings!

PERIODS DON’T STOP IN A PANDEMIC. ​

​DUE TO THE PANDEMIC- BRAWS IS BEING CALLED ON TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY- NOW MORE THAN EVER- READ MORE HERE! 

AS THE CORONAVIRUS SITUATION EVOLVES, BRAWS BOARD & STAFF ARE MAKING PLANS TO CONTINUE PROVIDING ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO THOSE WE SERVE, WHOSE NEED IS EVEN MORE URGENT RIGHT NOW.   

THE SAFETY OF OUR CLIENTS, OUR STAFF, AND OUR VOLUNTEERS - REMAINS PARAMOUNT. THEREFORE, WE ARE MAKING ADJUSTMENTS AS NEEDED IN ORDER TO ENSURE THE UTMOST SAFETY OF ALL THOSE INVOLVED. IN ORDER TO PREVENT DIRECT PERSON-TO-PERSON CONTACT, WE HAVE MADE THE DECISION TO TEMPORARILY SUSPEND OUR ON-SITE SHELTER DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM. VOLUNTEERS WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO ENTER PARTNER FACILITIES UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

 WE PLAN TO CONTINUE COLLECTING AND DISTRIBUTING DONATIONS OF PADS, TAMPONS, BRAS, AND UNDERWEAR.

WE WILL WORK WITH LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS, SHELTERS, FOOD PANTRIES, AND COMMUNITY PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE DROP-OFF SERVICES FOR OUR FAMILIES IN NEED. 

IN AN EFFORT TO LIMIT EXPOSURE, OFFICE HOURS ARE BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. PLEASE EMAIL INFO@BRAWS.ORG TO SCHEDULE A TIME.

IF YOU HAVE ITEMS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO DONATE (AND THOSE DONATIONS ARE MUCH NEEDED AT THIS TIME!), WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO USE OUR OUTSIDE BIN (114 COURTHOUSE ROAD, SW, VIENNA, VA 22180) OR PURCHASE VIA BRAWS AMAZON LINK. 

ALL DONATIONS, INBOUND AND OUTBOUND, WILL UNDERGO A THOROUGH CLEANING PROCESS. WE ENCOURAGE OUR VOLUNTEERS AND STAFF TO STAY HOME IF THEY ARE NOT FEELING WELL, ESPECIALLY HIGH RISK POPULATIONS, AS DETERMINED BY THE CDC. WE WILL CONTINUE TO CLOSELY MONITOR THE SITUATION AS IT EVOLVES, AND PROVIDE UPDATES OVER THE UPCOMING WEEKS VIA SOCIAL MEDIA (IF YOU DON'T ALREADY FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, OR TWITTER, PLEASE DO!)

IN THE MEANTIME, PLEASE SUPPORT FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO NEED YOUR HELP BY DONATING PRODUCTS, CONTRIBUTING FINANCIALLY AND VOLUNTEERING TO DRIVE PRODUCTS TO SCHOOLS, SHELTERS, FOOD PANTRIES, AND PARTNER AGENCIES. PERIODS DON’T STOP IN A PANDEMIC  - WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT ALL THOSE IN OUR COMMUNITY CONTINUE TO HAVE ACCESS TO BASIC NEEDS, SUCH AS MENSTRUAL SUPPLIES AND UNDERGARMENTS, EVEN IN THIS TIME OF UNCERTAINTY AND CRISIS.  

THANKS YOU FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING AND CONTINUED SUPPORT.
RESPECTFULLY,

HOLLY SEIBOLD
FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
BRAWS

oh what a night!

Thanks to YOU-
Thousands of women in shelters will not have to go without a bra, underwear or essential menstrual supplies.
​Thousands of girls won't have to miss school because their family could not afford menstrual supplies. 

Huge thanks to our amazing Sponsors- their support is crucial to our mission. Check out our Sponsor list- these are area businesses who care about the women and girls in our community!

mardi bras 2020 highlights courtesy of mike Beaty

huge thanks to our
Mardi bras 2020 sponsors!

join us for new volunteer orientation

 Want to be a BRAWS Volunteer but not sure what it entails or what sorts of opportunities are available?  Come to one of our New Volunteer Orientations and discover all the ways you can get involved! 
Sign up HERE!
​Questions? Email volunteer@braws.org

restroom revolution for fcps

Great News!  FCPS will now supply FREE menstrual products in girl's restrooms for the first time! Thanks to the Girl Up Club at Justice HS for bringing the issue to the attention of the school board. According to the "State of the Period" study commissioned this year by Thinx Inc and the nonprofit PERIOD, 1 in 5 teens struggle to afford menstrual products or are unable to purchase them at all.  BRAWS partnered with the Girl Up Club's menstrual equity program at Justice and is collaborating with several FCPS schools involved in a pilot program to address this issue.  Read the article in the Fairfax Times HERE!

our story

Six years ago, our founder Holly Seibold wanted to help women in local homeless shelters. She held a small collection drive at her house, inviting friends and neighbors and collected over 300 new bras, underwear, pads, and tampons. Holly brought the items to 3 shelters in the area and soon other shelters were calling her.  She quickly discovered that these items are: rarely donated, expensive for shelters to replenish and are not covered by food stamps. ​
​Since then, BRAWS has expanded our services- to include monthly deliveries of menstrual products to area shelters and school pantries.  In 2018, we were able to serve over 80 shelters and schools, help 6,000 women and girls, reach: 21 counties, 10 school districts, 6 states, and distribute over two million new and unopened pads, tampons, underwear and bras. 

 The majority of individuals in homeless shelters are women and their children. They are typically victims of domestic violence fleeing from abusive homes or are single mothers who have lost their jobs due to unforeseen circumstances and need help getting back on their feet.  ​They need physical and mental support to transition to better lives for themselves and their children. Our mission is to provide them not only with tangible items they need, but to empower them to gain independence and stability. 

​We have also found that many girls miss school due to lack of menstrual products and are working to meet that need by providing these products to area schools and school pantries.  With the help of area businesses and organizations we have installed free dispensers in over 15 schools and community locations.   BRAWS also engages in advocacy and education on menstrual equity, stigma and improving accessibility of menstrual products and undergarments for women and girls.

meet missy

​​​Missy (name changed for anonymity) is a 9th grader who attends school in Fairfax County. Missy is among the 10% of students in her school who qualify for free lunches. Her mom is a bus driver who works full time, but expensive housing and low wages prevents her family from living above the poverty level. Missy is the oldest of three children in her one-parent household. She tries to help her mom by keeping expenses low, but, last year, found herself needing a new, costly item - menstrual pads...

​READ MORE to see how BRAWS helped Missy, who hasn't missed a day of school since because she didn't have what she needs and is doing even better at school because she no longer has to worry about how she will manage her period!

It is stories like Missy's that keep us working towards our goal: No child should miss school because of her period. We are so thankful for our many donors, volunteers and supporters throughout the years who have helped us achieve our mission. Be a HERO to Missy and girls like her- donate ​HERE!

​BRAWS IS NAMED RECIPIENT OF THE GIVING CIRCLE OF HOPE'S 2019 GRANT AWARD!

We are honored to be included in the incredible list of 8 outstanding local nonprofit recipients of the Giving Circle of Hope's 2019 Grant Award!  This $3000 award will be used to provide undergarments and menstrual products to girls in Loudoun County, with the goal of reducing school absences.  We are so thankful to them for their financial support, kindness and dedication to making our community a better place! for more info - go to their website- ​https://www.givingcircleofhope.org/impact

need more space for your group?

To supplement the increased cost of rent, we would like to offer the community space to use for classes, groups, tutoring, meetings etc. on nights and weekends (and some afternoons). We have a large room that can accommodate up to 35 people and a kitchen! Price is negotiable and a financial donation to BRAWS! Sign up HERE to reserve a spot today! Questions? Email us at info@BRAWS.org

View our slideshow to find out more about BRAWS!

other ways to get involved

​BRAWS PARTNERS WITH​ TOWN OF VIENNA TO LAUNCH 1ST TOWN DISPENSER PROGRAM IN VA

September 2018- BRAWS launched the "Dignity in Public" initiative in partnership with the Town of Vienna Parks and Recreation Department. This initiative will place dispensers in two of the Vienna Community Center bathrooms and one in the Town Green restroom. These machines will dispense FREE pads and tampons, thanks to generous donations from the Vienna Woman's Club, the Govan Real Estate Group and Tim & Julianna Chapman of Chapman Development. Read more HERE.