At I Support The Girls (Columbus), Kathy Jackson and her co-director, Jamie Thurman, are guided by a simple but powerful truth: “We all deserve dignity.”

A global network of affiliates, the organization provides bras, underwear, and menstrual products to women in need, including those experiencing homelessness or financial hardship. Items are distributed through shelters, schools, pantries, street outreach programs, and more, with each affiliate tailoring support to their community’s needs.

Kathy, who has lived in Dublin with her family for 37 years, began her work with the organization in September 2018 and was joined by Jamie in January 2024. Together, they manage collections and distributions, building personal relationships with each partner organization to ensure the support is meaningful and effective.

They also host ‘pop-up shops,’ arranging bras and underwear in drawers to create a department store-like experience. Clients are measured and sized, then given the opportunity to “shop” for items they might not otherwise access, receiving at least one bra and seven pairs of underwear. Events also provide pads, tampons, makeup bags, toiletries, and gift bags, allowing clients to leave with their items neatly packaged, reinforcing the organization’s mission of dignity, empowerment, and hope.

Both Kathy and Jamie volunteer their time, covering costs themselves unless funds are raised to offset expenses. Between picking up donations, washing, sorting, organizing, and delivering items, they dedicate at least 20 hours a week. Each pop-up shop requires weeks of preparation, and the event day alone can total 30 hours.

As the only two volunteers in Columbus, they welcome any assistance. Additional support, particularly for organizing fundraisers, would allow them to purchase items that are rarely donated, in short supply, or in “unicorn” sizes, hard-to-find sizes often unavailable to clients. The organization continually needs sports bras, underwear, and hygiene products and invites individuals or groups to host collections, help with sorting and packing, or maintain the storage unit.

Over seven years, I Support The Girls (Columbus) has donated more than 2.5 million items, underscoring the ongoing need. Kathy reflects that giving often brings even greater rewards, showing how volunteering deepens understanding of the community and how something as simple as a bra can profoundly impact a life. Most importantly, it reminds us that we are all more alike than different, and that everyone deserves dignity. For more information, visit their Facebook page: I Support The Girls – Columbus.