WILMINGTON -- A huge donation of boxes and boxes of tampons to the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina branch in Wilmington is not only needed but somewhat rare.

"A lot of our agencies that give out food also do give out feminine hygiene products, diapers and other supplies and we don't see them donated very often,” said Beth Gaglione, the branch director for the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina Wilmington branch. “So the fact that the LOLA company and ‘Support the Girls’ were willing to include the food bank in this large donation. We're really grateful for that."

The large donation of 22,800 tampons was made possible by Liz Marmaras.

"The food bank will receive 11,400 organic tampons and the remaining tampons are going to three other groups; Open Gate in Wilmington, Coastal Horizons in Brunswick County and Good Shepherd Center in Wilmington," said Marmaras. 

Marmaras started the first “Support the Girls” chapter in North Carolina, serving women in the southeastern part of the state. It's a national charity which collects and distributes donations of new and gently-used bras, as well as sealed packages of feminine hygiene products, to give to women in need.

This chapter is just one of several to receive some of the 100,000 tampons donated to Support the Girls from LOLA.

LOLA cofounder, Jordana Kier, acknowledges that feminine products are something that's usually overlooked in shelters and facilities that help women.

“I believe I was selected because of my efforts to get ‘Support the Girls’ out there and to let people know what a fantastic group this is and what good deeds we do," said Marmaras.

Gaglione hopes this donation inspires others to give back.

"When it comes to feminine hygiene products, it's not something that they're necessarily comfortable asking for,” explained Gaglione. “So to have the donation from ‘Support the Girls’ come from LOLA, I hope that we see more of it and I hope that I can encourage more folks to think about those types of items."

Marmaras is still looking for businesses in Wilmington to hold bra drives, or be public and/or private drop off locations. Right now, Butler’s Electric and Fleet Feet Sports are the only permanent, public drop-off locations in Wilmington.

"All you need to have is a box, or a laundry basket to do your collection and spread the word to your friends and family, coworkers, neighbors, and collect bras, gently used, and new, as well as feminine hygiene products. And then contact me, I'll be happy to arrange a pickup, drop off," said Marmaras. 

And you can contact Marmaras through Facebook on the “Support the Girls” Southeastern NC chapter page, or by email at dignity.wilmnc@gmail.com.

To learn more about LOLA, click here.