One of the most amazing things about Rotary is our ability to create change in the world, and our club’s ability to act swiftly and be the change we wish to see. That ability is clearly evidenced in a project spearheaded by Suffern Rotary’s Elizabeth Stevens.
Approximately two years ago, Elizabeth read an article in the Rotary magazine about the tremendous worldwide problem of period poverty – the difficulty that women and girls of menstruating age have in trying to afford feminine hygiene products. It creates a tremendous deficit in education for girls and a loss of income for women who must stay home from school for up to a week every month due to their inability to afford these items; the tremendous social, emotional, physical and mental challenges it creates.
With the (correct) assumption that a worldwide problem MUST include the US as well (and indeed it does, an estimated 16.9 million women who menstruate are living in poverty), Elizabeth researched the availability and cost of these products, both on an annual and lifetime basis. She further discovered that these items are not covered by any governmental supplemental assistance programs. Elizabeth saw a deep need and went into action. The Period Product Initiative was born.
Elizabeth spearheaded a sanitary supplies drive at a local shopping center. She sourced and won grants from local private businesses and a bank. She partnered with a women’s 5k race, publicized the need, and gathered products and donations at this annual event. She obtained the cooperation of the local food pantry for distribution (and witnessed the shocked delight of women who viewed a box of pads as though they were seeing the gates of heaven).
The need is ongoing, and Elizabeth’s passion is ongoing too. Currently she is seeking to create a foundation where a principal amount can remain in an account, and generate enough income to sustain an annual need of $10,000. There is no stopping Elizabeth Stevens when she is on a mission to help, and she truly embodies the principles of Rotary.
We humbly submitted Elizabeth Stevens and the Period Product Initiative for the District 7210 Service Project of the Year 2024 and are so very proud of this award.
The PPI team is working to find a way to make the project sustainable & have found events to collect donations as well as sponsors to help support the project. One of its greatest sponsors is the Palisades Federal Credit Union Bank. In 2023 they donated $5,000 and in October 2024 it doubled its donation to $10,000. The Women's Distance Festival has partnered with the project and donations have been collected at the event for the past 3 years. The past 2 years Good Samaritan Hospital has also partnered with the PPI project at their Girls Night Out event where they fundraise for the Good Samaritan Breast Cancer Center.
In the spring of 2024 the Period Product Initiative (PPI) has been given a new logo designed by Shari Baitcher, Posters and tee shirts using the new logo were designed and donated by Stacy Caridi of Do Me A Favor Party Planners & Promoters.
These essential products are very much appreciated by those women who shop at the Sloatsburg Food Pantry. By keeping these products on the shelves we are helping the women of our local community with a very basic need.
If you are interested in making a donation here is the link: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/suffern-rotary-community-fund-period-product-initiative
You may also send a check or send in a cash donation to Suffern Rotary P.O.Box 103 Suffern, NY 10901.
Make a note on the memo for Period Product Initiative.
