activities · 5
what they do
direct service · 5
- Distribute new undergarments to individuals in need Hygiene and Essential Care Kits DistributionThe Undie Chest collects and distributes new undergarments to individuals facing various challenges, including financial hardship, homelessness, domestic violence, and health issues. Since its inception, the organization has distributed over 4 million essential undergarments, with 9,414 pounds redistributed in 2025.
- Provide disaster relief in the form of undergarments Hygiene and Essential Care Kits DistributionThe Undie Chest provides new undergarments to families affected by natural disasters, such as helping families in Jamaica after Hurricane Melissa.
- Provide undergarments to students in Title 1 schools Shoe and Essential Footwear DistributionThe Undie Chest partners with Title 1 schools to provide new underwear to students from low-income backgrounds, including an annual "Back to School Undie Drive." The organization delivered over 2000 pairs of underwear to the Tempe Elementary School District and aims to collect 5,000 pairs annually.
- Reduce textile waste through undergarment redistribution Donation-Based Reuse & ResaleThe Undie Chest contributes to environmental sustainability by redistributing new undergarments, diverting them from landfills and reducing textile waste. In 2025, the organization redistributed 9,414 pounds of undergarments.
- Support breast cancer survivors with recovery garments Comfort Kits for Breast Cancer PatientsThe Undie Chest provides new bras, mastectomy bras, compression garments, and prostheses to breast cancer survivors, having supported over 500 women in recovery through a partnership with Impact One Breast Cancer Foundation.
strategies · 4
how they think
Theories of action extracted from this org's own source material. Click any to see the full field of orgs running the same approach.
- Addressing Hygiene Poverty and Promoting Health addressing_hygiene_povertyBy providing essential undergarments, the organization directly addresses hygiene poverty, which is seen as a barrier to health, comfort, and overall well-being. This strategy aims to prevent health problems, improve hygiene, and ensure individuals have the basic necessities for a healthy life, particularly for vulnerable populations like foster care youth and low-income students.
- Improving Educational Outcomes and Reducing Absenteeism educational_equity_through_basic_needsThe organization strategically provides essential undergarments to students in Title 1 schools and those from low-income backgrounds to fill resource gaps, promote dignity, and improve focus. This approach aims to create an equal academic playing field, reduce absenteeism, and ensure students can attend school comfortably and confidently, thereby supporting their educational success.
- Leveraging Partnerships for Resource Repurposing and Distribution circular_economy_for_social_goodThe organization collaborates with retailers, schools, shelters, and other non-profit organizations to repurpose unused inventory and community support into essential undergarments. This strategy not only diverts usable items from landfills, reducing textile waste, but also efficiently distributes these critical resources to underserved communities, maximizing impact.
- Restoring Dignity and Confidence through Essential Undergarments dignity_through_essential_itemsThe organization believes that providing new, essential undergarments (including bras, underwear, and t-shirts) restores dignity, fosters resilience, and boosts confidence, which in turn improves self-esteem, mental well-being, and enables individuals to focus on learning and employment opportunities. This approach addresses the emotional and psychological impact of lacking basic necessities.
named programs · 6
what they call their work
Breast Cancer Survivor Support
Offers mastectomy bras, breast prostheses, and wireless bras to breast cancer survivors to aid in physical and emotional healing, in partnership with organizations like Impact One.
Domestic Violence Survivor Support
Supports survivors of domestic violence with new underwear and bras to restore dignity and comfort.
Human Trafficking Survivor Support
Provides underwear donations to aid in the recovery and empowerment of human trafficking survivors.
School District Partnerships
Provides essential undergarments to students in school districts, including Title 1 schools, to ensure students attend school with dignity and confidence.
Support for Foster Care Youth
Distributes new underwear, bras, and t-shirts to foster care youth, often in partnership with organizations like Magdalena's Daughters, to provide stability, comfort, and confidence.
Underwear Donations for Homeless Individuals
Provides new underwear, bras, and t-shirts to homeless shelters to support individuals and families experiencing homelessness, focusing on hygiene, comfort, and dignity.
relationships · 9
who they work with
- Arizona’s Family to the Homeless Partner — A partner organization that serves and empowers individuals and families with compassion, community connection, and practical support.
- Homeless Alliance Partner — A low-barrier shelter that tries to provide basic needs to clients, including underwear.
- Impact One Breast Cancer Foundation Partner — Collaborates with The Undie Chest to provide bras, compression garments, and prostheses to women nationwide through the Hope in A Box Program.
- Magdalena’s Daughters Partner — Partners to support foster care youth with underwear, aligning with their vision of empowering survivors by providing essential undergarments.
- Native American Connections Partner — Receives underwear donations from The Undie Chest to help people focus on healing and recovery.
- Roosevelt School District Partner — Receives essential undergarment donations for students in Phoenix classrooms.
- Roosevelt School District Partner — Receives essential undergarments from The Undie Chest to help students attend school with dignity and confidence.
- Tempe Elementary School District Partner — Delivered over 2000 pairs of underwear to the district.
- Tempe Elementary School District Partner — Partners to provide middle school students with brand-new undergarments, supported through the Health Office in each middle school.