The American Association of Critical Care Nurses South Central Kentucky Chapter will have the second annual Bras for a Cause, an undergarment collection drive to benefit the Barren River Area Safe Space.

From now through Dec. 1, AACN South Central Kentucky Chapter will collect new undergarments for all ages and sizes to be donated to men, women and children who come to the shelter. Donations of paper towels, toilet paper and disinfecting wipes will also be accepted.

“Some people are uncomfortable with the whole undergarment purchase so we added paper products this year,” said Nikki Felts, a registered nurse at The Medical Center and an active member of the AACN South Central Kentucky Chapter.

Donations can be dropped off at TriStar Greenview Regional Hospital Intensive Care Unit, The Medical Center Critical Care Unit/Intensive Care Unit and floor 6A/Commonwealth Regional Specialty Hospital. A shop and drop event will be from 2 to 6 p.m. Oct. 16 at Walmart at 1201 Morgantown Road. For more drop-off locations, call Felts at 270-202-1947 or email nikkifelts@bellsouth.net.

“They can drop off some undergarments after they shop or drop off donations,” Felts said. “They can make a corporate donation and I’ll shop for them.”

Felts got the idea while shopping with her mother, a domestic abuse survivor, at Victoria’s Secret.

“When these women flee with their children they go with nothing. To leave with no undergarments is a pretty big deal,” she said. “It seemed fitting to do this this month since it’s National Domestic Violence Month. That’s why we started it in October last year as well.”

Last year’s drive went well, Felts said.

“We got 1,500 different pieces of undergarments,” she said. “We had a large donation from the Warren County Board of Education.”

The undergarments are for men, women, boys and girls, said BRASS Executive Director Tori Henninger.

“The reality is that we have every age in our shelter. We have different sizes of women and children,” she said. “We have young men up to age 17 who can stay with their mothers. Any dependent can stay with their mother.”

One of the populations that BRASS is seeing more of is ages 55 and older, Henninger said.

“It’s not necessarily more victimization. They are from a generation that doesn’t talk about it,” she said. “It’s a blessing in disguise that this population is growing because they feel comfortable in reaching out for help now.”

The clothes are for people who come in with nothing or need new items, Henninger said. They are also used for the two Dress for a Change events in which women at the shelter and low-income women can get outfits, accessories and underwear.

“We are grateful for Nikki and Bras for a Cause. When she approached me to do something I said ‘do it, it sounds like a great idea,’ ” she said. “When you find someone who’s as passionate about this as much as Nikki is, it’s great. Integral items are important to donate to BRASS because everyday items are what we need.”

The paper products are just as important as the undergarments, Henninger said.

“What people think of as small makes a huge difference in services we supply for our clients. A couple of rolls of paper towels cost the same as having an ID made,” she said. “Without an ID, you can’t drive. You can’t get a job. You can’t get a bank account. It was a form of control. Helping them get that ID is a way of helping them get a step away from violence.”

Felts is grateful for the contributions as well.

“This is happening right here in Warren County. We’re not immune to domestic violence,” she said. “We take so many things for granted. It really does have a lot of meaning and impact.”

— For more information about BRASS, visit barrenriverareasafespace.com.

— Follow features reporter Alyssa Harvey on Twitter @bgdnfeatures or visit bgdailynews.com.