ReUse Market – Project Uplift

ReUse Market and Project Uplift

In May, 2025 had our first collection of bras at the ReUse market. Thanks so much to the many women who dropped off  bras they no longer wear. We were thrilled at the response! We filled our drop off container to the brim.

We’ll do this each month so please continue to donate.

Here’s a little more on Project Uplift from the annual newsletter.

Project Uplift Update: A Year of Making a Real Difference

What a year it’s been for Project Uplift.  Thanks to women’s generosity and unwavering support, Project Uplift have continued to make a tangible impact on the lives of women and girls, here in Aotearoa and across the Pacific.

The numbers speak for themselves. In 2024 alone, an astounding 25,015 bras found new homes, bringing comfort and dignity to communities who need it.

Here’s a breakdown of where thoughtful donations have gone:

• 16,465 bras to Fiji
• 5,365 bras to Tonga
• 290 bras to Samoa
• 1,200 bras to Vanuatu
• 1,015 bras to local Tongan communities
• 430 maternity bras to Pregnancy Help and other agencies in Aotearoa
• 250 bras to Auckland Women’s Prison

Project Uplifts efforts extend beyond just bras.

The Importance of Bra Extenders

Project Uplift have noticed a trend in recent donations – many bras with larger cup sizes but smaller bands. To ensure these donations are as useful as possible in the islands, they’ve been busy adding bra extenders. If you happen to have any bras that are no longer suitable for donation, please consider cutting off the hooks and eyes and sending them to us. These can be repurposed into extenders, maximising the impact of every contribution. Alternatively, if you’re able to create extenders or even include store-bought ones in your donations, it would be hugely appreciated.

The Powerful “20 Box Project”

A special initiative has been making waves in Fiji – the “20 Box Project.”

These carefully packed banana boxes are a treasure trove of support, each containing around 50 bras nestled amongst children’s books, underwear, dresses from Dress a Girl Around the World, children’s clothing, 10 pairs of reading glasses, 10 pairs of sunglasses, and any other items we have on hand that would be well-received.

These boxes are personally distributed by one of Project Uplift’s friends,  Api in Fiji, reaching single mothers, remote villages, and other communities where the contents are shared amongst those who need them most. Api’s heartfelt feedback truly highlights the significance of these boxes.

You can read more about the impact in this article in the NZ Herald: 

Expanding Project Uplifts Reach

While Project Uplift have achieved much, there’s still work to be done. There are towns and suburbs across New Zealand that don’t have a Project Uplift drop-off point. We’re calling on our network of supporters – do you know a friend, relative, or local business that would be willing to become a point of contact in their community? Please reach out if you have any leads.

Every single bra donated, no matter the size or style, is truly valued and will find its way to a grateful woman, making a difference in her life.

Thank you for being an integral part of Project Uplift. Your kindness is creating waves of positive change.