It all started with a Facebook post.

“Busy packing for my plus-size countrywomen who might be having a hard time finding things that fit among the donated clothes. Hang in there girls, I feel ya. 🙂”

wrote Michelle Marchadesch-Roxas.

“All plus-size people know that horrible feeling of not finding clothes and shoes that fit. But what if you were dependent on donations? What if you were too embarrassed to ask?” said Marchadesch-Roxas.

“I know it’s kind of a specialized need, but even if there were only 3 people whom we could spare from feeling that, then it would be worth it,” she added.

Because there is such a thing as a donation that is too small

Several people responded to the witty post and Marchadesch-Roxas found a couple of friends who were actually doing the same thing, but there was no specific group collecting donations for larger size men and women.

That started The Plus – Size Drive.

Marchadesch-Roxas partnered with fellow “curvy mama” Liselle Lam, and worked on a Facebook page with an About Page that was just as witty and punchy as Marchadesch-Roxas’s original post.

“Yes, unfortunately, there is such a thing as a donation that’s too small.

Because Yolanda’s victims come in all shapes and sizes, we thought relief should too. If you’re a plus-size person, you know only too well that horrible, embarrassing feeling of not finding anything that fits.

We’re collecting plus-size clothing and shoes for men and women. Underwear too (preferably new).

If you or anyone you know would like to help, please spread the word.”

“The response has been great! We plus-sizers have to stick together, you know!” laughed Marchadesch-Roxas.

Even non-plus sizers joined in by sharing the page and getting the word out to their own friends. Plus-size donations are sorted, classified and packed in specially marked boxes that are sent off to Villamor Airbase. The girls hope to able to send out more donations farther out to the Visayas.

To date, they have gotten all sorts of donations for plus size women and men, but they could also use some plus – size shoes or underwear.

“I’ve heard people say that they’ve been looking for someone who was doing just this, so we’re glad we did it,” said Marchadesch-Roxas.

For people who are interested in coordinating a drop-off or making a plus-size donation, you can contact Michelle Marchadesch Roxas or Liselle Zamuco Lam through their Facebook Page.

Everyone could use a fresh change

Sheila Catilo was touched when her 5-year old daughter, Sky, told her that she wanted to bring clothes to contribute to their school’s relief operations for Yolanda.

While gathering clothes from her closet, Sky came up to her and said, “Mommy, wait… eto pa.” handing over three of her panties. And then she whispered, “Baka kasi wala na silang panty.” (They might not have panties of their own.)

This simple, innocent gesture had such an impact on Catilo; she couldn’t stop thinking about it and a light bulb went off in her head.

“Oo nga naman! (Of course!) People donate clothes, food, medicine and water but don’t specifically donate underwear!”

Catilo got together with Paula Virata, a fellow mom from Sky’s school, who wanted to find a way to include undergarments among the list of relief items needed by the calamity survivors.

“Paula realized this after watching a woman being interviewed on TV expressing how grateful she was that she finally got to change her panties for the first time after the flood,” said Catilo.

The duo talked about being in the survivor’s position and receiving a used, bacon-gartered panty with holes.

“What would that do to their sense of dignity, or level of comfort, to say the least? On top of that, there are health and hygiene issues involved. We knew we had to do something about it.”

The duo started The Great Panty Drive and began rallying people to donate new undies for the survivors of Typhoon Yolanda.

Catilo’s sister, Stef Juan, felt just as strongly about this cause after hearing about the idea and made a logo and posters.

The initial design was drawn a table napkin and posted on Instagram and The Great Panty Drive took off. People reacted positively and started asking how they could contribute to the drive.

A Facebook Page was started to let people know where they could drop off and send donations, explain what types of undergarments were being collected

Within 24 hours of posting,  The Great Panty Drive had its own volunteers offering  to help with collecting donations.

On the second day, donations began pouring in from all over: Metro Manila, Cavite, Batangas, Tuguegarao, Bataan, Australia, Singapore – even as far away as the US.

On the third day, The Great Panty Drive had more than 4,000 pairs of underwear in kind – for women (panties, bras & even sanitary pads), men (briefs & boxers) and kids (panties, briefs and undershirts), plus cash donations that – thanks to a supplier who sold the items at cost – allowed for the purchase of 3,500 more.

“It’s quite overwhelming to see not only how this simple idea took off, but to be able experience people’s generosity and genuine concern for their fellow Filipinos,” said Catillo.

Among their donors are the supplier for a major local department store, the other is the brand Barbizon / Mona Lisa.

Boxes of brassieres and panties were sent off to Villamor Airbase during the peak of evacuation from Leyte and other boxes were sent to the different parts of the Visayas, in partnership with aid organizations who are working on the ground. Some items were sent to UP Diliman, where 190 students from UP Tacloban were taken in and other boxes were shared with families who were adopted here in Manila by relatives or private individuals.

“I think bras are something we need more of and panties for the older generation who like their garters above the waist,” said Catilo. She admits that while the overall reaction was positive, initially some found it silly at first.

“It’s just a matter of making people realize that we are blessed if we have more than one pair of underwear right now, because after Yolanda, thousands of people had nothing but the clothes they survived in. As our tagline goes, “Everyone deserves a fresh change.” This our way of helping them start over,” said Catilo. – Rappler.com

People interested to join can visit the Facebook page to see how they can contribute to The Great Panty Drive.