New NJ-Based Initiative Boosts the Confidence and Potential of Women and Girls in Need -- Every 28 Days
Millburn, NJ (PRWEB) October 11, 2016 -- The new charitable organization, 28 Days, is combining the power of philanthropy, technology and social entrepreneurship to provide feminine products to women who need them — thereby creating a less stressful and more confident period. With a new fall campaign beginning today — International Day of the Girl Child — 28 Days seeks to continue its work to change the social norm around the availability, distribution and cost of products women need during their periods.
Launched in May with an initial push to supply middle and high school girls with summer kits of feminine products, 28 Days has quickly gained ground as donors and distribution partners leverage this new way of giving that supports underprivileged women and girls. Since May, 28 Days has received more than 8,000 sanitary pads and 20,000 tampons representing more than $5,000 worth of donated products for distribution in NJ and PA.
28 Days was founded on the premise that girls and women need access to affordable feminine products every menstrual cycle, which occurs approximately every 28 days. According to research published in 2015 by The Huffington Post, women will spend from $60-$80 per year on feminine products. From the ages of 13-50, a woman can expect to spend $2,220-$2,960 on feminine products (not accounting for inflation and taxes). Indeed, for lower income women and families paying for these products on a monthly basis, the cycle can be a financial burden.
There is also a social burden. Girls and young women can start menstruating as early as age nine, which means they may have six years to manage menstruation during school. This directly impacts school attendance, participation in sports, and overall lack of confidence stemming from not having the right products to manage the period throughout the school day.
28 Days partners with local organizations, such as Orange, NJ-based MEND (Meeting Emergency Needs with Dignity) and PA-based Family Promise, to identify needs and distribute the products directly to those girls and women.
“Our distribution partners are essential to the 28 Days model,” said 28 Days co-founder Amy Dietrich. “Our partners understand the unique needs of these women and the best ways to get products into their hands, every 28 days,” said Dietrich. “School nurses are also an integral part of our program, as they are in touch with the students and are a direct channel of support and distribution.”
A goal of the organization is to be intentional in the use of technology and automation to make 28 Days a faster and more efficient way to donate. 28 Days created a curated Amazon List of approximately 10 products from pads to tampons to make it easy for donors to purchase the items online. Donors can choose to have these products shipped directly to 28 Days for distribution. Items included on the curated list are multi-pack or jumbo boxes, the average product price is under $20 and items are eligible for Prime free shipping.
“The concept is simple,” explains co-founder Jamy Barton. “It’s all about women (and men and children) helping other women. Our partnership model is based on two key questions: “Who needs the help and how often?’ From there a relationship is born. And by combining technology, social media and automation, we are making it easier for donors to get engaged, get informed, and contribute to our mission.”
For more information on how to get involved with 28 Days, go to http://www.28daysproject.org or email contact28day(at)gmail(dot)com.
About 28 Days
28 Days was founded on the premise that women need access to affordable feminine products — every 28 days — and that no woman needs to feel financial or emotional burdens by simply being female. Our mission is to provide feminine products to women in need — to create a less stressful and more confident period. Founded by sisters, Jamy Barton and Amy Dietrich, and powered by the talents of like-minded women with talents in tech and volunteerism, the project delivers on the passion to help others and leverage innovation to improve the way we can all make a difference in the lives of others.
Amy Dietrich, 28 Days, http://www.28daysproject.org, +1 303-587-4054, [email protected]
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