Greenwich Jr United Way Raises $1K for Undies Project

From Greenwich United Way: 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. She continued, "The Greenwich Jr United Way has really given me a great opportunity to help out in my community and meet kids my age that go to other schools in town."

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.

During a weekly GJrUW meeting led by Program Coordinator, Joanne Delone, teens learned that underwear is the most under-donated, and most needed item of clothing. Teens 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.

"The best part about being a member of The Greenwich Jr United Way is that it provides the necessary space for teens, like me, who are not only passionate about community service, but in addition, for those who are goal-oriented and seek leadership opportunities outside the school environment" said Brunswick rising Junior, Dylan Ofori. He continued, "For me, the Jr United Way has been my first real experience in a position of leadership, being that the organization is student-led. It feels great looking back at all of our community service initiatives, and to know that I have really created and was responsible for impacting change."

Delone plans to keep teens engaged over the summer through volunteering and fundraising activities. "I plan to host a brainstorming session in the beginning of August to help prepare GJrUW members for their fall project and to reinforce the mindset that GJrUW is a teen led initiative". Greenwich teens in middle school and high school are welcome to join GJrUW 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.

For more information please email GJrUW Program Coordinator, Joanne Delone (jdelone@greenwichunitedway.org). For additional information or to make a donation please visit Greenwich United Way online (greenwichunitedway.org). Visit Greenwich United Way on Facebook (facebook.com/greenwichunitedway/), Twitter (twitter.com/GreenwichUW) or Instagram (instagram.com/greenwichunitedway/) to learn more about the organization and people it serves in real time.

Photos courtesy of Greenwich United Way