The Undie Chest Inc.

At Undie Chest, our mission is to restore dignity and promote healthier communities through underwear donations, addressing the issue of underwear poverty. Thanks to your monetary and in-kind contributions, we can provide comfort and hope to those in need.

 Undie Chest was founded to address hygiene-related issues and provide clean underwear to entire families. This assistance allows them to concentrate on obtaining essential necessities without further worry. In Arizona, where 59% of the homeless population is unsheltered and homelessness rose by 29% from 2020 to 2022, our mission is more vital than ever.

 We assist individuals and families facing homelessness, poverty, human trafficking survivors, uninsured breast cancer survivors, and students in Title 1 schools in Phoenix. Collaborating with retailers and local agencies is vital in achieving our goals.

 We offer sustainable solutions for retailers by providing options to recycle or donate unsold items, such as gently used bras and new underwear, instead of sending them to landfills. Our partnership with EpiHab enables individuals with disabilities to assist in sorting, boxing, and shipping donations to those in need, furthering our mission.

Programs
We have two programs that address an issue that has not been discussed: the lack of underwear for those trying to transition back to self-sufficiency. Our first program, the Undie Power (UP) Program, supports shelters, transitional programs, and breast cancer survivors in AZ and around the world by donating underwear. We have supported over 130 nonprofit organizations in 29 states and eight countries.

Our second program is the Everyone Deserves Underwear (EDU) Program. The 2025 goal for the EDU program is to partner with school nurses and administrators in 65 Phoenix Title 1 schools to donate new underwear to deserving students. We currently have an outreach of 60 schools in the program. We want to help boost self-esteem and confidence in middle and high school students so they can focus on building their future and not their wardrobe.

Testimonials

We know the need exists for new underwear in our schools, through testimonials from recipients of underwear donations. If this basic need goes unmet, we are impacting the chances of our students to thrive in school and their personal lives. Michele Grimaldi, Director of Wraparound Services in Tempe Elementary School District, says:

'The Tempe Elementary School District has been fortunate to partner with The Undie Chest to provide our middle school students with brand new undergarments. This very strategic partnership has great benefit to our students that are in desperate need of this particular resource. A school district will often receive donations of small hygiene items, but the support of underwear is truly unique. A need for new underwear is very common for families in need, however, it is not something easily observed. This issue is often hidden, making it hard for students to be comfortable. We are grateful for The Undie Chest to support our middle school students; middle school is often missed as needing basic supplies.'

'Our partnership with The Undie Chest is supported through our Health Office in each of the middle schools. Undergarments are a blessing for comfort and dignity and promote confidence in students when spending time with friends and participating in physical activities.'

'Our outcomes with the partnership with the Tempe Elementary School District and the Undie Chest protect and support students. Having basic needs provided for students increases the positive mental and physical health and provides students with the opportunity of increased learning in comfort.'