Oxfam staff throughout Chester are celebrating after a successful hunt for bras.
Manager of the Bridge Row Oxfam shop Andrew Wilkinson, said: “I would like to thank everyone in Chester who has supported the Big Bra Hunt. We have received over 250 bras – and they keep coming!”
They even received a giant sized bra from Chester the Giant City!
Katherine Burgess, who is the manager of the Frodsham Street Oxfam added: “A lot of people came into the shop on April 1 thinking that our request for good quality bras was an April’s fool. Customers were surprised to learn that an item that most women take for granted in their daily lives could be so sought after in Senegal and could make such a difference to others.”
Some of the bras will be sold to raise money for Oxfam’s work worldwide while other will be sent to Frip Ethique. Frip Ethique means ethical second hand clothing and is a unique Oxfam project that is based in Senegal. It is run by women and sorts and trades unsold second hand clothes from Oxfam shops. The project provides essential employment for women in the area who are disadvantaged.
Katherine added: “These bras may not be of use to women in Chester, but the jobs created and profits made from the trade and sale of these bras provide a unique opportunity for women in West Africa to provide for their families, send their kids to school and afford vital medicines.”