The number of families in the USA needing assistance from food cupboards continues to increase year after year. According to an article in the Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester, New York, “Area Food Pantries Hope to Stock Up,” emphasizes the need for not only food items but products that are not covered by food stamps. You will be shocked by some of the items ~many are highly priced~ that cannot be purchased with food stamps·
- Sanitary pads, tampons
- Bar soap
- Deodorant
- Panty Liners
- Toilet paper
- Tooth brushes/paste
- Laundry detergent
- Mouthwash
- Facial/Body wash
- Shampoo Conditioner
SOME FACTS:
Increase in families needing assistance for food and non-food items from food pantries and charitable organizations.
Feminine care products are expensive and are a necessity, not a luxury
Food stamps cannot be used to purchase non-food items, such as personal care products
Increased health risk when feminine hygiene protection products are not changed properly
Low-income families have to choose between buying personal care items and buying food
There is not one main place where families or agencies can access free feminine hygiene protection products
There are no efforts that stay in the USA, only for developing countries
To help alleviate this problem, my company donates sanitary pads, tampons and panty liners, and Scensibles bags. The products are distributed through area health clinics, emergency shelters, schools and food pantries.
Some of the past recipients have been:
Handbags for the Homeless- Central Pennsylvania
Center for Youth Services- Street Outreach Program-Rochester, NY
Prom Dress Drive- Delta Phi Kappa-Sacred Heart University
Cameron Community Ministries-Rochester, NY
Junior League of Rochester for GirlsRock! participants
Give a Girl a Chance-Mission to Africa, Chelsea Krost “Teen Talk Live”
As a result of retail distribution with WEGMANS Food Markets, we will be able to widen our charitable activities throughout the northeast and mid-Atlantic regions.
We now donate SCENSIBLE STARTER kits for distribution to participants of organized tween and teen youth programs. The kits are small satin pink pouches containing a sanitary pad, a panty liner, hand wipe, a pack of Scensibles disposal bags and instructions on proper methods for discarding feminine care products. It is my hope that the kits will assist young girls avoid some of the anxiety around getting their periods for the first time. This important natural life event is made easier by being prepared with the necessary supplies.
LASS:Ladies Attaining Self Sufficiency, Rochester, NY
Anne,
I wanted to thank you personally for the wonderful sanitary kits for the girls. They loved them. We had a great discussion about waste disposal and the proper way of doing it.
The girls brought up the point that there were no garbage cans in their bathroom at school. So we sat down and the girls wrote a persuasive letter to the head custodian requesting one.
They spelled out the rationale about girls in puberty needing their privacy, and that disposing of their personal waste in a trash can in the middle of the hall was not acceptable.
When I went to tutor yesterday they ran up to me to tell me they now have a garbage can in their bathroom. The girls learned many lessons thru your generous gift.
Thank you so much. Attached is a picture of the girls with your pouch.
Elyse
Girl Scouts of Genesee Valley donated products and help assemble the kits for distribution to inner city Troops:
Boys and Girls Club of America: Smart Girls
Rochester, NY
Syracuse, NY Central Village
S.H.I.N.E. Greater Washington DC
Cheer Program Fort Mead, MD, Laurel Boys and Girls Club
Amodestri Girls Club, Inc Rochester, NY
Clay County Health Department in Lineville, AL
Dear Ann,
The session our clinic nurse had with the pre-teen girls at First Assembly Christian School was very positive. She was able to get them to open up and ask lots of questions. They also loved the kits that you sent for them. They will be able to keep their supplies discreetly in their purse or back packs and be ready when their time comes. They were absolutely thrilled with their own little personal gift.
Thanks for all your help! April
Young Queens, a program of Educationn Plus in Baltimore Maryland.
The mission is to teach sisterhood, healthy living, financial awareness, and much more the girls of our group and community.
ALL NEW! “Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Feminine Hygiene Products But Are Afraid To Ask!”
An informative and fun talk about the history of feminine hygiene protection products from AD to present times; show and tell of eco-friendly alternative methods; why and how I started The Scensible Source Company and invented Scensibles; importance of proper disposal practices; and more. Plus donation of Scensible Start Kits.
The Beautiful Achieving Divas, a program of Hillside Work Scholarship Connection, Rochester, NY
The Beautiful Achieving Divas really enjoyed you and all of the information you provided, as did my colleagues.
Some of the comments from students:
Very interesting
Learned about products they had never heard about
Going to go home and tell mom
“Not stuck up” (they were really impressed that you are an inventor/business owner and that you took the time to talk with them, and that you were so “nice.”)
My colleagues also really appreciated your style and ability to engage students. So, thank you!
STAR Sister’s Together Achieving Results Touching the lives of Rochester’s young women
Donation of SCENSIBLES Petite Packs
Fairy Godmothers-Rochester, NY
Victor/Farmington, NY Salvation Army Christmas Stocking Program
Fashion Week of Rochester
WXXI Speaking of Women’s Health Conference 2010
Pamper Me Pink 2010
I just wanted to let you know that we received your donation of 100 scensible samples for our Swag Bags for Pamper Me Pink 2010 to benefit the Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester and I am so very thankful for your support of our event!
We cannot thank you enough and stress the importance of the support of businesses like yours to make this event a success and raise the money we have commited ourselves to raise for this organization! Have a great week.
With Warmest Regards,
Amber Perez
Super Mom Conference