Tulane center helps out homeless teens with new socks, undies

NEW ORLEANS — It's a basic necessity we take for granted. We're talking about clean underwear. There's a growing need for underwear for the homeless — especially homeless youth.

Tulane University's Drop-In Center is doing something to help.

Bras and briefs ... these are bare necessities.

"It's actually sad to say, but there are a lot of kids who go commando. You need to have something to wear and not have to go commando," Joshua Beverly, senior program coordinator at Tulane University's Drop-In Center, said.

At the Drop-In Center, they've made it a priority to collect clean, new underwear for the homeless youth of New Orleans, which is just one of the many helpful services that they offer.

"The Drop-In Center is for homeless youth between the ages of 14-23," Rob Haynes, senior program coordinator, said. "We provide them with services like washing clothes, a day center for them to hang out. They can take showers. We will do case management and medical services to help them. If they need bus tokens, or job placement opportunities we are here to help them. I think it helps them in a tremendous way. Everyone needs someone to believe in them."

"Sometimes when you have a fresh pair of socks or undies, it just makes you feel human," Beverly said.

The Drop-In Center is throwing their Underwear Karaoke Party at a bar on Friday. Their goal is to collect at least 1,000 pieces of underwear by December.