The Undie Chest is a nonprofit dedicated to ensuring children, families, and adults experiencing hardship have access to new, clean underwear and other essential undergarments.

Underwear is one of the most needed, yet least donated, basic necessities. For someone facing financial hardship, homelessness, domestic violence, foster care, or another difficult life transition, access to clean underwear can restore comfort, confidence, dignity, and a sense of normalcy. For students, it can also help them stay focused on learning instead of worrying about an unmet basic need.

We work with Title I schools, shelters, nonprofit organizations, and community programs to provide new underwear, bras, socks, and other essential undergarments to people who need them most.

Our work also creates a more responsible path for usable products. We partner with retailers and brands to redirect excess inventory, overstock, returns, and samples away from waste and into communities where those items can make an immediate difference. This helps reduce textile waste while extending the useful life and social impact of products that might otherwise be discarded. Our 2025 Community Impact Report describes this approach as a way to reduce environmental footprint while strengthening social impact.

In 2025, The Undie Chest distributed 9,414 pounds of new undergarments, exceeding its annual goal by 17.7%. In 2026, we have already distributed 10,466 pounds year to date, surpassing our entire 2025 total.

The need remains significant. In our 2025 Community Impact Survey, 75% of partners reported they would need to allocate their own funds to purchase underwear if they did not receive our donations, and 63% said they need more than 1,000 items of new underwear for the people they serve.

As Michele Grimaldi, Director of Wraparound Services for Tempe Elementary School District, shared, “Undergarments are a blessing for comfort, dignity, and confidence in students.”

Every vote and every donation helps us reach more students, families, and individuals in need while giving retailers a more socially responsible and environmentally conscious way to manage usable excess inventory.

Because dignity starts with feeling good undie-neath.