The Outlet Youth Center held its 4th Annual Bra Day on March 6 at Rochester High School.
“This event has become our favorite event to host each year,” said Outlet Executive Director Taylor Showley. “I have never seen a group of kids more excited than when we come for Bra Day. One student walked in the door this year and told me Bra Day was her favorite holiday!”
In partnership with The Stacey Carvey - Schoenhals Foundation and I Support The Girls, over 240 girls were served this past Wednesday.
During Bra Day, students in 8th-12th grade were called down to the gymnasium by grade and the first initial of their last name. Their attendance was completely voluntary, and they had the option to not participate in the program. When students arrived, Lindsay Brubaker, a professional bra fitting specialist with the company Essential Bodywear, gave a brief presentation on how to properly wear a bra and explained the importance of doing so.
Brubaker is passionate about educating women about bra-wearing.
“It’s important for girls to know how wearing a bra properly can affect their posture and prevent rashes and dermatitis. Aside from health reasons, I believe a good supportive bra makes or breaks how a girl feels about themselves. When women are properly covered and feel comfortable, their self-confidence has room to shine!”
After a brief presentation, the girls were invited to come pick up their free items. This year, items ranged from one free bra for each girl, sports bras, feminine hygiene products, makeup, skin care products, and underwear. I Support The Girls donated so much underwear that students were able to take home 14 pair for themselves. If students were not sure of their sizes, Lindsay was available to size them if they chose to do so.
“Bra Day is very exciting at RHS! I had a girl tell me she actually wasn’t planning on going to school that day, but remembered it was Bra Day, so she was there. I had another young lady tell me how grateful she was because she had no idea what her size was and she will be interviewing for jobs soon and now feels more confident. It’s awesome to see these young women being excited and feeling special. RHS truly appreciates the volunteers who make our girls feel comfortable and proud to be a young woman," RHS Assistant Principal Lauri Atkinson commented.
As all products are provided for free by I Support the Girls, The Stacey Carvey-Schoenhals Foundation served as a sponsor to ensure each girl received the products they needed. If a particular size ran out, The Outlet purchased the size and will deliver it to the schools after spring break.
Lukas Schoenhals, husband of the late Stacey Schoenhals, commented on the sponsorship, “Giving back to students at Rochester Community Schools is at the heart of the Stacey Carvey-Schoenhals Foundation and being able to sponsor this wonderful program would have been something near and dear to Stacey. I’m grateful to live and work in a community that continues to invest in its youth and I know these supplies helped hundreds of young ladies at Rochester High School. Thank you to Taylor Showley & Lindsay Brubaker for all the hard work put into organizing this program and allowing us to help out.”
