St. Cloud Restaurant Collects Nearly 600 Bras for Women’s Shelter

(KNSI) – Organizers of this year’s Lift Up The Ladies campaign for a St. Cloud women’s shelter say it was a success. Jules’ Bistro in downtown St. Cloud collected bras and other donations for Anna Marie’s Alliance in March during women’s history month.

Jules’ Bistro owner Donella Westphal says they collected 577 brand new bras, three pairs of slippers, 62 pairs of underwear and $675 in cash.

“The staff and Anna Marie’s tell us that one of the things many of their residents are in desperate need of is good quality brand new undergarments, especially bras.”

Donella says many of the women who come to the shelter have left everything behind to escape from the hands of an abuser. She says the Thursday night social hours were as wonderful as the donations themselves.

“The conversations that happened in the room, the generosity, people were showing up with bags of brand new bras, the new friendships that were made, and the discussion around women and how we lift women up in our community was just really impactful.”

She says they plan to bring the event back next year.

“So it is definitely something we are planning to do every single year. So next March will be the next one.”

She says Anna Marie’s is an amazing resource in Central Minnesota and that they have needs all year long. To donate or learn more about Anna Marie’s Alliance, click here.

Jules’ Bistro held a Lift Up The Ladies event in 2019 but had to cancel in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID.