Written by Jade Ruston
Maya Angelou said, “I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver”
St. Francis of Assis was recorded saying that “it’s in our greatest interest that when we give, we actually deeply receive.”
Feelings demonstrating the significance of these statements are flushing through the streets of Moonee Ponds Melbourne (Aus) as family run Illusions Lingerie combines their business model alongside moral integrity to support women across the country.
For more than 30 years, customers at Illusions Lingerie have been greeted with the warm buoyancy of Tracey Cohen. It’s now time for the rest of the country to feel that same glow, as the statewide call out for old, (used but not abused) bras of all sizes to be brought into the shop, into a glamorous pink rhinestones bin.
They are further donated in bulk to Support The girls Australia who are giving dignity back to women suffering from or at risk of abuse, homelessness and disadvantageousness via gifting hygiene products, garments and providing support deep enough to lift countless women up to gain more than their own expected potential.
When the first month closed on donations, the shop collected a near 100 bras (Amazing). Last month over 600 beautiful bras were donated from all corners of Victoria by women both grateful not to have to face throwing away that slightly loved garment that holds on dearly to the darkest corners of your draws and have them go to a good cause instead.
“Obviously a lot of women are holding on to their underwear. So I’m sure they’re pretty happy to find a nice place for it to go and often it’s in really good condition too.”
Now over 1000 of them have been shipped off and the donatees are reporting feeling more fabulous than ever.
Tracey Continued, “People feel amazing about donating and we feel like we’re contributing. I always say, think about it as something that you’d happily give to your best friend.” Illusions lingerie is the ONLY bra drop off point in Victoria for Support The Girls Australia and on top of contributions, all old/unsold stock gets added into the pile at the end, so they all get another life on a life helped.
“Ladies will come in with their partners and they’ll give us this bag of bras and they’re super, super happy and really feeling like they’ve really done something.”
Super super happy. How many of us a day can report doing something that leaves us feeling super super happy?
There’s an old proverb,
If you want to be happy for an hour, take a nap.
If you want to be happy for a day, go fishing, (fun activity)
If you want to be happy for a year, inherit a fortune.
If you want to be happy for a lifetime, help somebody.
There is even MRI technology that has shown us that giving, creates a state of Helphers High which is a literal state of euphoria that’s derived from doing charitable deeds, (giving without the expectation of being given anything back) and the feeling is related to that of a mild morphine high, which is how I know that we really are wired to be generous beings, and great news, it’s contagious! Moonee ponds customers know all about it.
“One lady that lives in a resort somewhere in the eastern suburbs rang me said – I’m going to put it up on our Facebook page, and I’ll collect as many bras as I can, it’s a bit of a distance for me to come but I’ll pop in one day- and so she turned up last week with a crate of pre loved pre loved bras.”
Tis always the season to be Jolly, thankful and giving, if you have any bras having fomo (Fear Of Missing out) in the bottom of your draw then Illusions Lingerie on Puckle Street in Moonee Ponds is ready and waiting eagerly to meet you and your contribution. Undoubtedly somebody else is waiting across the country just as eagerly.
Nobody ever wound up with less by giving. Great example setting Cohen family!