The South Windsor High School girls volleyball program hosted a community service event in their gymnasium on October 19th. The Lady Bobcats welcomed Dignity Grow’s representatives and immediately launched hygiene product packing.
Each year, the girl’s volleyball team wraps up their season on a note of gratitude by giving back to their community. Taking advantage of Dignity Grows’ availability, the volleyball team booked an event, carrying on the community service tradition.
“To show our appreciation and that we care more about what is regarding our school and community, it is very important for my student-athletes to understand there is a bigger world out there. It is our job to make sure we are always giving back to those who may not have the opportunities that we have,” Varsity Coach Ryan Mintzer-Woodcock explained.
Hygiene products lined the folding tables, waiting for the event to begin. After an informational discussion, the girls systematically made their way to the tables and began packing hygiene products into tote bags. Each member of the team had the opportunity to pack at least 5 tote bags, giving them the chance to support women across America. Each bag contains sanitary pads and panty liners, shampoo, soap, a toothbrush and toothpaste, deodorant, and hand wipes. The volleyball team worked as an unified force, finishing their packing swiftly.
Dignity Grows is a non profit organization that was created during the COVID-19 pandemic by President and Chief Operator, Jennifer Tolman and Chair and Chief Executive Officer, Jessica P. Zachs. The organization started locally and is still continuing its expansion. From California to Wisconsin, Dignity Grows is able to host events across America.
“Across the country, we have 4,500 volunteers who not only come to help once but they come again and again. We see volunteers of all ages and backgrounds, we also see recipients of totes come back to volunteer and pay it forward. It is an exceptional thing to be able to bring so many people into this caring process,” added National Operations Associate, Rebecca Carroll.
Period poverty is a growing cause throughout America due to the lack of availability and increasing cost of basic hygiene products. The Ballard Brief explained two-thirds of American women experience a lack of feminine products during their lives. This strips women of their dignity and leaves them in uncomfortable circumstances.
“We know we are just chasing a growing need. So we have put a lot of our focus on research and social policy change because we want to change the trends in period poverty. We would like to see this decrease and we really think that within the next decade or so we could eliminate period poverty across the country,” said Jennifer Tolman.
As period poverty awareness is raised through Dignity Grows, the Connecticut legislature was influenced to pass the menstrual equity bill. The goal of this bill is to provide free menstrual products in every school bathroom across America by the end of 2024.
“We like to think that Dignity Grows had an impact on setting the bill into motion” stated Rebecca Carroll.
By providing period products in school bathrooms, female students will be able to further their education while feeling comfortable in their school environments. Students living in period poverty will have the resources to persevere through the adversities they face. Dignity Grows is currently partnered with Hartford public schools and Bloomfield public schools and wishes to expand its reach.
“In some of the wealthier school districts, people assume that there is no need, but we really challenge students to think about housekeepers, [and] all the people that work at Dunkin’ Donuts in their town; there is always going to be a need that you may not know exists,” affirmed Carroll.
By challenging the mentality of privileged Americans, Dignity Grows creates a sense of community between the women in America.
“Our catchphrase is we want to change the cycle of period poverty,” Jennifer Tolman told The Prowl.
The South Windsor girls volleyball team will continue to give back to their community in the years to come as they carry on the tradition of community service. The Lady Bobcats have successfully contributed to changing the patterns of period poverty one tote bag at a time with the help of Dignity Grows Nonprofit Organization.
