Maple Grove Mom Starts Nonprofit Affiliate To Help Homeless Women

MAPLE GROVE, MN – One mom in Maple Grove is working to support the homeless and at-risk women in the Twin Cities metro by collecting new and gently used bras, new underwear and feminine hygiene products.

"I started a new affiliate of Support the Girls here in the Twin Cities," Jessica Van Kirk told Patch in an email.

"I'm a stay-at-home mom in Maple Grove and just needed to give something back to the community."

Support the Girls - Twin Cities Metro is a part of a larger, national organization founded by Dana Marlowe in Washington D.C.

"After searching for organization that collected bras, underwear and feminine hygiene products in our area, I realized there was a void and I could fill it," Van Kirk continued.

"I started at the end of January. So far we've collected more than 550 bras, 200 pairs of underwear and 5000 feminine hygiene products."

"Just this week I was able to deliver donations to five metro area shelters/organizations including Home Free, Tubman Center, Lutheran Family Services, Catholic Charities and Ain Dah Yung Center."

Van Kirk told Patch that her goal is to be able to regularly provide donations to at least one dozen organizations.

To learn more or to donate, visit the Support the Girls website.

Images via Support the Girls - Twin Cities Metro, used with permission