The RV Women’s Alliance (RVWA) announced the launch of their donation drive in partnership with ‘I Support the Girls’ (ISTG), a charity dedicated to collecting and distributing essential items for women in need. Their mission: “Through an international network of affiliates, I Support the Girls collects and distributes essential items, including bras, underwear and menstrual hygiene products, allowing women and folx experiencing homelessness, impoverishment or distress to stand tall with dignity.”
At RVWA’s open house breakfast, in lieu of traditional breakfast fees, participants were encouraged to donate sanitary products to support ISTG. The donations totaled 11,738 individual products.
“This is a six-month drive that spans across borders, providing products not only in the US but also in Canada,” said Denyse Pontius of Century Chemical, chair of the Community Service Task Force. “Our ambitious goal is to supply products for five women’s lifetimes, which equates to 80,000 sanitary items. With the generous support we’ve received so far, we’re confident we will smash this target and continually strive to exceed it.”
RVWA members can contribute by setting up donation boxes at their workplaces or by shopping from Amazon wish lists, directing products to RVWA’s main donation sites. For those interested in setting up their own donation box or seeking more information, contact Savannah Henry at shenry@rvwa.org.
Susan Carpenter, president of RVWA, recounted the inspiration behind the drive: “This all came about when Kate Taylor of Thetford, our Events co-chair, saw an ad for ISTG and brought it to our attention. It just made so much sense. We are given the chance to give another woman a sense of dignity.”
RVWA is also encouraging donation sites to get creative and decorate their donation boxes to join in the fun and take part in a lively decorating contest.
The donation drive will culminate in a celebratory breakfast on March 1, 2025 (location to be announced at a later date). This finale event will gather all collected items for a final count and provide a photo opportunity to capture this incredible community effort.
The RV Women’s Alliance said it invites everyone to join hands in this noble cause and make a tangible difference in the lives of women and folx in need.
For those in the U.S., click here.
For Canada, click here.