The annual Menstrual Product drive was conducted the last week of January and was successful. Tartans competed against each other to see which class could earn the most points. The donated products are going to an organization called I Support the Girls which is a local organization that supports women all around the world.
Social Justice Director Maika Walker was excited to continue the school tradition of the drive with the help of the global health course and the social justice club. Around the world, there are many obstacles with the pricing of the products and also the costs of basic necessities.
“There are many times when those in need have to pick between food and period products,” Walker explained.
The organization does help locally, especially within the D.C. area. But they also donate to places that have a harder time gaining access to products, such as locations that have been affected from war or natural disasters. Holy Cross started this drive through the social justice club a couple years ago to help aid people that face these situations.
“I Support the Girls was started by a woman to admire the honor and inspire dignity for all individuals, which is especially important in an all-girls school,” Walker added.
Dana Marlowe is the woman who started I Support the Girls, after she was inspired by a trip to a local shelter. Marlowe had asked the woman working at the shelter what the shelters need the most, and found out that menstrual products and bras were in major need. Marlowe then went onto Facebook and made a post asking others to help donate to the cause. This started the movement and ignited her passion for helping women.
Ashley Gardner, teacher of the global health course, explained that many shelters still are lacking in terms of undergarments and menstrual products, and that as an all-girls school it is an especially important issue.
“It’s something that we can all understand. That the need for having clean products is a necessity,” Gardner continued.
Junior Kendall Peterson was involved in the global health course where they learned about women’s health and specifically period health and hygiene. Gardner’s global health course has always been involved with the drive and teaches students the impacts their donations can have, along with many more issues concerning health around the world.
The course “brought attention to the subject matter of the lack of period products that many suffer from,” Peterson explained.
This is Peterson’s first year being involved with the drive because of the course and she says that this drive is especially important to empower all women and show how grateful we should be for having access to these products for ourselves.
“It makes me more appreciative that the school provides pads unlike other places where they would make you have to pay, “ Peterson said.
During this year’s 2024 donation drive, the global health course packed over 650 packs containing 3 of each product people would need.
“It’s not only great to give back to a local organization, but it’s also good to know that it’s giving basic necessities for all homeless people in need,” Gardner concluded.
