Goods for Girls

I've been meaning to explain the Goods for Girls button on my sidebar for ages. And fortuitously, while I have been dilly-dallying, they've gotten an easy cash donation process up for those of us who don't sew!

This is one of those no-brainer situations where a)it's a great cause, b)the person involved is skimming approximately zero off the top, and c)it's easy to give. If you're looking for a worthwhile place to give your green (or your hand-sewn organic flannel sanitary items) look no further.

Crunchy Chicken, an environmentalist mom (which is an understatement - she's amazing) who blogs from Seattle, got motivated when she heard about a huge Proctor & Gamble campaign to give out free, plastic-wrapped tampons in Africa. Great idea, she thought, poor execution (and holy ulterior motive). Most women in these areas are currently using rags, and cultural practices may or may not support tampon usage. Even more importantly, as Crunchy points out, most of the villages in the regions affected still burn their trash.

In many areas of the world, access to adequate menstrual supplies is difficult to come by. Many women and girls rely on rags, newspaper, camel skin or nothing at all for their menstrual needs. A lack of sanitary pads can be a big barrier to a girl's education.

It may seem difficult to comprehend for many women who have easy access to a varied source of supplies, but we can all appreciate how difficult life would be without them. Imagine trying to go to school or work without protection. For many, it brings life to a halt.

Providing disposable supplies creates an additional burden on some communities where solid waste disposal consists of burning the garbage. Since many disposable feminine hygiene products contain plastic, incineration potentially creates an environmental and health hazard.

Thanks for reading!