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Meet Erin Persaud

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Erin Persaud.

Erin, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
In April 2017, I was finally cleaning out my closet post-pregnancies and nursing. I had a bunch of nursing bras, and others from before babies that were just taking up room in the drawer, but no longer fit well. One of my friends kept posting on social media about an organization, I Support the Girls, that collected and distributed gently used bras, so I wrote in and asked where to donate in Denver. They told me I could mail them to Fort Collins, as there was no Affiliate in Denver. Given the clear need in the region, I was shocked. I scheduled a call with Rachael Heger, Director of Affiliate Outreach, and found out that the organization relies on volunteers and doesn’t recruit Affiliates, so cities join as volunteers come forward. I had 15 years of nonprofit experience, and a willingness to jump in, so I began the process to become an Affiliate.

That first year, I donated around 10,000 products to local organizations. I loved the process of vetting organizations – learning about the people they serve, their needs and capacity, and the breadth of services offered. There are so many amazing organizations in the Denver, Boulder, and Colorado Springs area. At times I was able to meet directly with the folx I was donating products to, which puts faces and stories to the work I am doing.

During this time, I met with the Founder and Executive Director, Dana Marlowe, and shared my experience and willingness to help. In November 2017 I was brought on as the Director of Operations on a national level to help grow and develop the organization. In 2018, I donated over 96,000 products and worked with Melissa Reese in Fort Collins and Emily Siler in Colorado Springs to cover as much of the state as possible.

In 2019, the organization has continued to grow. ISTG held our first-ever Affiliate Retreat in Maryland, with over 35 volunteers from around the country attending. As an organization, we passed the 7.4 million products donated mark. ISTG donates to more than 1585 organizations worldwide, including in Pakistan, the Philippines, Canada, and Australia. Locally, Tess and Justin Key took over in Colorado Springs, and are doing amazing work. Melissa Reese continues to be an exemplar in Fort Collins. Here in Denver, I’ve donated more than 110,000 products to 20 organizations in 2019, and more than 217,510 since 2017.

In 2020, ISTG is adding in more advocacy and awareness campaigns, which is resonating here in Denver as local school board members, legislators, and student groups take on access to menstrual products in schools. I look forward to working on these projects in the coming year.

Has it been a smooth road?
Being an ISTG Affiliate is rewarding, but definitely a lot of work. There are so many moving parts – coordinating pick-ups of donated products from individuals or the drop off points. Sorting and counting products. Managing volunteers, who are life-savers! Seeking out and communicating with social service organizations to make sure everyone is getting what they need. Tracking communications and donations. Storing the product while coordinating all of the above.

The biggest challenges have been identifying and vetting recipient organizations, managing the storage of the donations and making sure they get distributed in a timely manner, washing the gently used bras that come in during large collections by corporate partners like Soma and Lane Bryant, and sorting the enormous donations from ThirdLove. The local Extra Space Storage has offered space when they can. Distributing our amazingly large menstrual product donations from Lola in a timely manner. It all involves people power, and I am just one person with a slowly growing tribe of dedicated volunteers.

Dana Marlowe is the Founder, Executive Director, and inspiration for I Support the Girls. Her endless energy and innate ability to arouse the passion of others is the bedrock of the organization. Rachael Heger was the first Affiliate Director, helped develop the program, and continues to lead and mentor other Affiliates. Locally, Eva Frickle has been instrumental in building the donation base and shuttling products. DJ Irvin has gathered amazing friends to help wash and sort thousands of bras. Brittany Roop helped set up new donation drop-offs, wash, sort, and deliver products. Jennifer Jacobs, formerly the Houston Affiliate, moved to Denver and is stepping in to support our efforts. Local companies and organizations like The Barre Code, Balm Fitness, The Feminine Collective, The Junior League of Denver, Soma, Lane Bryant, and more have done drives to collect products for us.

We’d love to hear more about your organization.
Through an international network of Affiliates, I Support the Girls collects and distributes essential items, including bras, underwear, and menstrual hygiene products, allowing women experiencing homelessness, impoverishment, or distress to stand tall with dignity. As of the end of 2019, we have distributed almost 7.5 million products to 1585 social service organizations. We are primarily volunteer-driven, with our 58 Affiliate Directors giving their time, homes, and energy to working in their local communities worldwide.

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Denver is a very giving city. There are so many generous donors and so many folks in need. If someone is looking to start a nonprofit, I would suggest they first survey the work already being done, as there are so many organizations working hard to do good in the community.

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