Click here to read an article by Kimberly-Clark that features my project and my work on Hope Supply's student board!
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Hi everyone! My name is Mary Beth and I completed my Girl Scout Gold Award in Fall of 2020. If you're interested, read my post below to learn about my project and how you can still help those affected by period poverty.
Thank you so much to everyone that supported my project. I am so appreciative of your generosity and excited to share that I was able to double my project goal! My original goal was to make 50 period packs, but with your help, I was ultimately able to create 110 period packs for menstruators in need.
While I am incredibly excited about this number, my project was not just about providing donations. It was also about spreading awareness about period poverty in order to help continuously support the 1 in 4 menstruators that have struggled with period poverty at some point in their lifetime.
When donating, most people tend to think of clothing, food, shelter, and other necessities a homeless or low income person might face, but period poverty is often forgotten about. My hope for this project was to spread awareness about this very present need in our community and to inspire others to support it as well. Period products are some of the most requested items at shelters but the least donated. I hope that by learning about this issue, you’ll join me in working towards changing this statistic.
Period Packs
Period Packs
Most of my project was creating period packs, which included:
pads
deodorant
toothbrush
toothpaste
shampoo
conditioner
body wash
handwritten greeting cards
a homemade heating pad
Due to COVID-19, I had to move my collection drive online by creating both an Amazon wish list and Target wish list.
Ultimately, the period packs were given to Hope Supply Co. and then sent to Hope's Door New Beginning Center, a domestic violence shelter, and to Hopeful Solutions, an organization that helps single mothers struggling with addiction.
All of the period packs I made were given out within a few days of my donation, which really speaks to how great and present the need for period products is in our community.
Heating Pads
Heating Pads
One thing I added to the hygiene kits that Hope Supply usually makes are homemade heating pads.
I had not sewn before my project, so once I taught myself to sew, I researched the best way to make a homemade heating pad. I then created a tutorial with the best method I found, and posted the tutorial on YouTube, so I could share it with volunteers as we could not meet in person.
I also created instruction cards in both English and Spanish for the users of the heating pads, as you can see below!
Spreading Awareness
Spreading Awareness
An important element of my project was spreading awareness.
First, I created this website full of resources about period poverty and information about my project.
Additionally, I presented my project to a younger Girl Scout troop to teach them about period poverty and to give them inspiration for their upcoming Gold Award projects.
I also created a few Instagram posts for Hope Supply's account during National Period Poverty Awareness Week! I created all the posts with red backgrounds, but I have included all of Hope Supply's Instagram posts from that week because they all provide great information about period poverty!
To continue supporting Hope Supply and organizations like them, click here to learn how to donate or click here to make a homemade heating pad!
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