The Panty Schmooze

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The Panty Schmooze History: the Inaugural Event

Background: It all began with a simple request in early 2003 of one friend to another. Women's shelters in the GTA were in urgent need of clothing donations. When asked to clean out her closet for anything useable, Heather Ostertag, the Panty Schmooze founder, responded with "It is hard to get past a phrase like "we will accept donations of everything - even used underwear."

Heather, enrolled at the time in a Landmark course in leadership, decided that as part of her course commitment to create a community service event, something could be done. She communicated the shelters' needs to her co-workers who agreed, with much enthusiasm, to get involved to create an event that would raise the desperately needed goods as well as awareness for the shelters. And so, the Panty Schmooze was born.

The name comes from the initial concern - the brave women who choose to leave abusive relationships, often with only the clothes on their backs, are reduced to having to accept used underwear.

Inaugural Event
April 14, 2003

The event was scheduled to commence at 5 p.m. sharp. The volunteers had worked very hard all day to ensure that the evening would be the success they had dreamed of. The sound system was in place, the decorations were hung, the donations received during the prior Saturday's clothing drive were sorted and packed, the corporate donations were on display, the "goodie bags" were ready for the first 100 people to come through the doors, the performers had arrived, the sound checks were complete- everything was in place. This was a whole new venture for all of the "Schmoozers". None of them had ever done anything remotely like this before. The word was out about the event and all the volunteers hoped that people would show up....and they did!

Over 250 guests flocked to the Indian Motorcycle Club to attend the first annual Panty Schmooze in support of Women's Habitat of Etobicoke. Admission to the event was $20 or 3 pair of new underwear.

Hosted by singer Tara McLean, the evening included performances by Julie Crochetiere of Sugar Jones, singer/songwriter True Daley, and Toronto artists half full. Tara also performed.

As the guests arrived, the panties that were received for admittance were piled onto a nearby pool table. By 6:00 p.m. the table was piled high.

The evening generated over $3,600 in cash and over 1,200 pairs of new underwear were collected. Other donations included over 200 boxes of gently used clothing and household goods, DVDs, cases of shampoo, conditioner, soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, body wash, moisturizer, baby food, coffee, diapers, new children's shoes, and slippers, as well as 20 large pizzas and a 27" television and a DVD Dream System for the shelters common room.

Attendees were eligible to win over $4,000 worth of door prizes, including a complete cell phone package, spa packages, concert tickets, gift certificates and art - all donated by the community to support the event.

By the end of the evening people were asking about next year. Yes, there would be a next year.

Friends In Need:

To date, several shelters in the Greater Toronto Area have received support through the efforts of the Panty Schmooze in various capacities.

They include:
Women's Habitat of Etobicoke
Ernestine's Women's Shelter
Nellie's
NA-ME-RES
Opportunity for Advancement
Redwood Shelter for Abused Women
Rexdale Women's Centre
Second Base (Scarborough) Youth Shelter
YOUTHLINK
Youth Without Shelter
YWCA
Delisle Youth Services
St. Christopher's House