CHICAGO, IL (WBBM Newsradio) - As girls and young women, from across the city, make their way into Woodson North Middle School in Bronzeville, they’re greeted in a hallway decorated with colorful affirmations.
Entering a small gym, they then find themselves thrust onto a tiled runway, lined on each side by other women cheering for them and shaking bright pink tasseled wreath’s while a DJ spins the romantic classics.
Here at Woodson, it’s ‘LOV’ day.
“It’s the acronym for our organization, Ladies of Virtue… is LOV, L-O-V,” says Kenya Mercer, Senior Program Manager for the non-profit Ladies of Virtue.
This LOV day, volunteers and sponsors are packing up about 700 LOV boxes, to be picked up or delivered. The boxes contain hygiene essentials along with a few special extras.
“Filled with anything from hair products, to stuffed animals, to affirmations, makeup, all things that make our girls feel good and we distribute those to all of our girls ages 9-24,” said Mercer.
While the boxes are meant to provide products that can be useful to girls and young women from all backgrounds, Mercer tells WBBM Newsradio that if there is one special item in the box, it would be the ‘LOV’ Teddy Bear.
“It’s Valentine’s Day, every girl loves to feel cozy and would love a stuffed animal, and so, that’s what I would choose to be our ‘top’ gift in the box,” said Mercer.
Follow Ladies of Virtue across their various social media accounts to learn more.
