Jules Bistro Hosts Lift Up the Ladies Bra Drive and Social Events for Anna Marie’s Alliance

(KNSI) — Jules’ Bistro downtown St. Cloud is gathering new bras all month long for the women staying at Anna Marie’s Alliance.

Jules’ owner, Donella Westphal, told KNSI News the restaurant reached out to Anna Marie’s to find out what they needed, “and they told us that one of the things many of the women who come to the shelter need is new undergarments. They take care of their kids. They take care of their pets; they take care of everyone else. And they really need some support in that way as well.”

On Thursdays in March, Jules’ is holding Lift Up the Ladies social hours from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. “And if you bring a brand new bra to donate, you get to eat and drink for free. So we have beverage samples, we have food samples, and it’s just a great time for people to gather and converse about women’s issues. Their day, the community and life.” All shapes and sizes of bras are welcome.

So what do they do with all of the bras they collect?

Westphal explained, “at the end of the month, our team gets together, and we sort through them, arrange them by size, box them up, label them, and take them to Anna Marie’s. And they put them in a closet where women at the shelter can shop for what they need.”

She says this is her favorite time of the year because of everyone’s generosity.

Those attending March 16th’s social will enjoy beer brewed by Fair State Co-op, the first cooperatively-owned brewery in Minnesota and only the third in the country. Members of Fair State will be on hand, and attendees can sample some of their favorite beers while enjoying a spread of appetizers. Anna Marie’s Executive Director, Sandy Nadeau, will share stories about how last year’s bra donations made a difference. The event runs from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Jules will hold two more Lift Up the Ladies social hours on Thursday, March 23rd and March 30th.

The bra drive is in honor of March being Women’s History Month.

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