Meet HERcarity Collective |

We had the good fortune of connecting with HERcarity Collective and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi HERcarity Collective, how did you come up with the idea for your business?
When we first started our volunteer collective the only thing we knew is that we wanted to help others. It started with us hosting quarterly fundraisers for different causes that we were passionate about (back to school supplies for underfunded schools, providing clothes to unhoused folks, supporting women fleeing from domestic violence, supporting healthcare workers during COVID). In the process of doing this community work, we decided we wanted to narrow our focus on what our community actually needed. Through volunteering with different organizations, we saw most people had access to food and clothing, but not access to hygiene products. That’s how the idea of the Blessing Box was born.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Honestly, we are proud of simply taking action; seeing a need and following through to fill that need. We used money out of our own pockets to purchase supplies, watched YouTube tutorials, and pitched our idea to the world. As two introverts struggling with depression and anxiety, putting ourselves out there was a mental hurdle we overcame. We got the chance to receive support from complete strangers and serve our community through our Blessing Box.

The Blessing Box revolves around providing basic hygiene products to (literally) anyone who needs it, but our challenge lies in combating the shame amongst our peers around accepting help. In the digital era we live in, we are consumed by 30 second reels of perfection and false interpretations of what’s really going on in today’s financial climate. There is a stigma that only people who are houseless/in shelters can receive donations. We want to emphasize that it’s okay to grab a lotion or shampoo from our Blessing Box and save that last $30 to treat yourself to a nice meal or drink that’ll uplift your spirits. We work tirelessly to bridge the gap between the less fortunate and the working class people who are simply waiting for their next paycheck.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We really don’t go out so first things first: we’re starting with tequila shots at the house while making brunch. We’ll take them to Portrait Coffee and then one of the Food Halls – either Ponce City Market, Krog St., or Chattahoochee Food Works. We’ll walk the belt line with our little to-go cocktails and choose places to go to at random. If its the second Friday we’ll take them to the High Museum, if not we’ll go to a local art show/gallery party. For dinner we get dolled up and choose a restaurant or cocktail bar we bookmarked months ago on Tiktok. If it’s warm out, we’ll go on a nature hike at Roswell Mill or Cascade Nature Preserve. For the rest of the week you’ll find us hosting intimate dinner parties and game nights, ending most evenings with a candle lit meditation & yoga at the house.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
We would love to give a shoutout to Rosa @ForKeepsBooks for hosting our very first Blessing Box. When we met her we gave a 30 second pitch and without thinking twice (and without knowing us at all) she agreed to host our blessing box. She is a resource in the historic community of Sweet Auburn and we are so grateful that our Blessing Box is in a location where people can access it.

Website: https://www.hercarity.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hercarity/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Hercarity

Image Credits
photographer: @sisichanelphoto