Nonprofit gives Gift of Lift for thousands

Vancouver — The National Women’s Coalition Against Violence Exploitation program “The Gift of Lift” collected more than 5,000 bras throughout the past year, bringing the nonprofit’s total to 12,000-plus since the program started in 2014. The bras will be distributed among programs benefiting women who are survivors of domestic abuse, sexual assault and human trafficking, women returning to work, homeless women and incarcerated women. Some of the bras will also go to girls from Vancouver, Evergreen and Battle Ground schools who are homeless or from low income families. A $5,000 grant from Macy’s covered the expenses of the program, including shipping costs to international partners. The program also received donations from Shanahan’s Bar & Grill and Dr. Allen Gabriel and Dr. Manish Champaneria of PeaceHealth Plastic Surgery. Waste Connections donated all of the pink collection bins, which are located among 17 different businesses around the county. A list of collection sites can be found at www.giftoflift.org/collection-sites and more information can be found at www.NWCAVE.org