Area women -- and men -- are encouraged to show support for others in need in an encore benefit performance at the end of the month.
The second annual Mardi Bras for a Cause will be held from 5 until 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 28 at Cakes by Appointment, 1030 Quarrier St., Charleston.
Mardi Bras for a Cause is a collection drive for new brassieres, underwear and personal-care items, such as sanitary napkins, for women and girls who are homeless or residing temporarily in area women’s shelters.
Donations can be dropped off starting at 5 p.m. Feb. 28 in the party room at Cakes by Appointment.
The gathering will include music, prizes, Mardi Gras-style beads and refreshments.
Morgan Robinson, director of communications for the Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences in Charleston, said the Mardi Bras for a Cause was her “brainchild” last year, but “there are seven, talented, wonderful girls who share responsibility for it,” she said.
“Last year, I was reading an article about women and families in homelessness,” Robinson said. “They really have a hard time rationing basic female-care needs. For a lot of women, especially in domestic violence situations, they have to leave their homes in the middle of the night, in a hurry, with just the clothes on their back and sometimes with their children in tow.
“I was really just thinking about the safety of families, and their needs that we, as humans, take for granted. We have to help,” Robinson said.
The inaugural Mardi Bras for a Cause also took place last year at Cakes by Appointment, Robinson said.
“The theme was a play on Mardi Gras. Petra Vasale, another co-founder, opened her party room at Cakes by Appointment, and we had a wonderful turnout,” she said. “More than 100 women came by and donated. We were able to fill a box trailer with the items that were donated.
“We were so fortunate that we decided to do it again this year, and we hope everyone will open their hearts and closets to helping these women.”
The collected undergarments and personal-care items will be given to the YWCA Charleston to distribute to individuals through the YWCA Sojourner’s Shelter for Homeless Women and Families and the YWCA Resolve Family Abuse Program.
Robinson said she foresees the Mardi Bras for a Cause remaining an annual event, occurring in a festive, convivial atmosphere while helping a continual, community cause.
“The need is never satisfied. The beautiful thing the YWCA does is put women back into their lives, to find careers and housing. For every woman who finds success, though, there’s another who needs to be built up Something needs to be done year after year. We want to make sure every woman is taken care of through the event,” Robinson said.
Donations can be made prior to Feb. 28 with the following individuals at the following locations:
• Ashley Alford, Putnam County Chamber of Commerce, Area 34, 971 W.Va. 34, Hurricane
• Morgan Robinson, The Clay Center for Arts & Sciences, 1 Clay Square, Charleston
• Petra Vasale, Cakes by Appointment, 1030 Quarrier St., Charleston (9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday).
Putnam County Chamber of Commerce Vice President of Programs and Events Ashley Alford said she is pleased to make the Chamber of Commerce’s Teays Valley offices available to facilitate donating for Putnam residents.
“Morgan is a good friend of mine, and the YWCA does serve some ladies from this area,” Alford said last week. “A lot of time, people don’t want to drive all the way to Charleston, so we wanted to be able to make access available to them.
“Morgan came to me and a group of our friends last year and we said we should get involved. We figured the more drop-off locations spread out through the tri-county area, the better and the more donations we would be able to secure for these ladies, because they definitely need the support,” Alford said.
She added that the Putnam County Chamber of Commerce offices serve frequently as a repository for other nonprofit ventures throughout the Kanawha Valley. “If we can make it easier for people to donate, we try,” Alford said.
“We’re all good friends and we’re women who want to help other women,” Cakes by Appointment owner Vasale said. “I’m just fortunate to have the facility to do this, and I’m always happy to do this. Last year’s turnout was amazing, and this year’s can only be better.
“It all starts with the community,” Vasale said, “and this helps pull the community together. It’s an easy event; anybody can help. It’s not asking people to donate a lot of money, just some little, tiny things. The personal-care items aren’t very expensive; even people who don’t have a lot can contribute. I’m happy to give the shirt off my back to anybody who needs it, so whatever I can do -- there’s no question in my mind. I’m glad to be able to host it again this year.”
Vasale added that several area restaurants are donating food, beverages, desserts and other refreshments to serve at the benefit event and support the Mardi Bras for a Cause mission.
For additional information about Mardi Bras for a Cause, contact Morgan Robinson at 606-465-2309.
The second annual Mardi Bras for a Cause will be held from 5 until 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 28 at Cakes by Appointment, 1030 Quarrier St., Charleston.
Mardi Bras for a Cause is a collection drive for new brassieres, underwear and personal-care items, such as sanitary napkins, for women and girls who are homeless or residing temporarily in area women’s shelters.
Donations can be dropped off starting at 5 p.m. Feb. 28 in the party room at Cakes by Appointment.
The gathering will include music, prizes, Mardi Gras-style beads and refreshments.
Morgan Robinson, director of communications for the Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences in Charleston, said the Mardi Bras for a Cause was her “brainchild” last year, but “there are seven, talented, wonderful girls who share responsibility for it,” she said.
“Last year, I was reading an article about women and families in homelessness,” Robinson said. “They really have a hard time rationing basic female-care needs. For a lot of women, especially in domestic violence situations, they have to leave their homes in the middle of the night, in a hurry, with just the clothes on their back and sometimes with their children in tow.
“I was really just thinking about the safety of families, and their needs that we, as humans, take for granted. We have to help,” Robinson said.
The inaugural Mardi Bras for a Cause also took place last year at Cakes by Appointment, Robinson said.
“The theme was a play on Mardi Gras. Petra Vasale, another co-founder, opened her party room at Cakes by Appointment, and we had a wonderful turnout,” she said. “More than 100 women came by and donated. We were able to fill a box trailer with the items that were donated.
“We were so fortunate that we decided to do it again this year, and we hope everyone will open their hearts and closets to helping these women.”
The collected undergarments and personal-care items will be given to the YWCA Charleston to distribute to individuals through the YWCA Sojourner’s Shelter for Homeless Women and Families and the YWCA Resolve Family Abuse Program.
Robinson said she foresees the Mardi Bras for a Cause remaining an annual event, occurring in a festive, convivial atmosphere while helping a continual, community cause.
“The need is never satisfied. The beautiful thing the YWCA does is put women back into their lives, to find careers and housing. For every woman who finds success, though, there’s another who needs to be built up Something needs to be done year after year. We want to make sure every woman is taken care of through the event,” Robinson said.
Donations can be made prior to Feb. 28 with the following individuals at the following locations:
• Ashley Alford, Putnam County Chamber of Commerce, Area 34, 971 W.Va. 34, Hurricane
• Morgan Robinson, The Clay Center for Arts & Sciences, 1 Clay Square, Charleston
• Petra Vasale, Cakes by Appointment, 1030 Quarrier St., Charleston (9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday).
Putnam County Chamber of Commerce Vice President of Programs and Events Ashley Alford said she is pleased to make the Chamber of Commerce’s Teays Valley offices available to facilitate donating for Putnam residents.
“Morgan is a good friend of mine, and the YWCA does serve some ladies from this area,” Alford said last week. “A lot of time, people don’t want to drive all the way to Charleston, so we wanted to be able to make access available to them.
“Morgan came to me and a group of our friends last year and we said we should get involved. We figured the more drop-off locations spread out through the tri-county area, the better and the more donations we would be able to secure for these ladies, because they definitely need the support,” Alford said.
She added that the Putnam County Chamber of Commerce offices serve frequently as a repository for other nonprofit ventures throughout the Kanawha Valley. “If we can make it easier for people to donate, we try,” Alford said.
“We’re all good friends and we’re women who want to help other women,” Cakes by Appointment owner Vasale said. “I’m just fortunate to have the facility to do this, and I’m always happy to do this. Last year’s turnout was amazing, and this year’s can only be better.
“It all starts with the community,” Vasale said, “and this helps pull the community together. It’s an easy event; anybody can help. It’s not asking people to donate a lot of money, just some little, tiny things. The personal-care items aren’t very expensive; even people who don’t have a lot can contribute. I’m happy to give the shirt off my back to anybody who needs it, so whatever I can do -- there’s no question in my mind. I’m glad to be able to host it again this year.”
Vasale added that several area restaurants are donating food, beverages, desserts and other refreshments to serve at the benefit event and support the Mardi Bras for a Cause mission.
For additional information about Mardi Bras for a Cause, contact Morgan Robinson at 606-465-2309.
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