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. Most people read an article and shake their heads sadly. Not Elizabeth.
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 and are so very proud of this award.