The Gift of Lift

Two weeks ago, local plastic surgeon Dr. Allen Gabriel launched a unique clothing drive to benefit women in Haiti.

Gabriel, with Southwest Medical Group Plastic Surgery, started The Gift of Lift charitable program to collect new and lightly used bras for women in Haiti. Gabriel will take the bras with him on his annual trip to Haiti to provide medical care.

Gabriel hopes to collect 500 bras. The day after announcing the campaign, men and women walked into his office and handed over 100 bras. Today, he’s up to 367 bras.

As word continued to spread about The Gift of Lift, so did the community’s generosity.

One woman, Andie Lovelady, emailed Gabriel and shared her own plan to help him reach his goal.

Lovelady works as a bartender at Shanahan’s Pub & Grill, 209 W. McLoughlin Blvd. Every Wednesday through Dec. 14, Lovelady will collect new bras. In exchange for a new bra, the donor will receive a raffle ticket.

At the end of the campaign, a winning raffle ticket will be drawn. The winner will receive a $100 Victoria’s Secret gift card that Lovelady and her co-worker, Misty Winders, purchased.

On the first night of the campaign, Nov. 16, Lovelady collected 50 bras.

“When I thought about what it would be like as a woman not to be able to afford to own a bra, or be able to provide one for a daughter, it broke my heart,” Lovelady wrote.

“Thank you so much for doing this,” she added. “I think it is amazing.”

To donate, bring new or slightly used bras to the Southwest Medical Group Plastic Surgery clinic, 505 N.E. 87th Ave. Suite 250.

For more information, visit http://www.thegiftoflift.org.