D.R.E.W. Projects Women's Health Initiative
What is the D.R.E.W. Projects Women's Health Initiative?
The D.R.E.W. Projects, Inc. Women's Health Initiative aims to end period poverty and stigma for thousands of women and girls experiencing homelessness in the United States. To help kick off this initiative, D.R.E.W. Projects, Inc. will provide 1000 feminine hygiene kits to local non-profit organizations in California, serving women and girls experiencing homelessness. Every two years, we plan to double the number of kits donated to women and girls by extending our reach across the United States.
Ending Period Poverty
Across the world, low-income women, and girls face financial barriers when it comes to getting access to sanitary products. Often, they have to make a tough decision between purchasing food or buying feminine products. The issue is even more pressing when you are experiencing housing instability. As part of our initiative, we want to help relieve the cost burden for non-profits and as many women & girls as possible.
Our commitment is to help unhoused women and girls access period products, such as tampons, pads, panty liners, etc. By dedicating feminine hygiene kits to 501(c)(3) non-profits that serve this population, we can increase access for as many women and girls as possible. Additionally, if we can help non-profit organizations build up their resource closets with feminine hygiene products, they can reallocate their funding towards services or housing.
Ending Period Stigma
As women and girls, we have experienced embarrassment, verbal shaming, and discrimination when having a period at school, work, or even worse, living on the streets. In reality, women and girls should not be ashamed or face differential treatment due to menstruation. At D.R.E.W. Projects, Inc., we want to end period stigma by raising awareness and educating students & community members on the many facets of period stigma and how it negatively impacts women and girls in their lives.
Women's Health Initiative Activities
Feminine Hygiene Kit
Each year, D.R.E.W. Projects will select 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations (within the U.S.) to donate feminine hygiene kits. Each kit will consist of pads, tampons, panty liners, and cleansing wipes. For convenience and simplicity, we will package the items in a pink, reusable tote bag for on-the-go replenishment. #endperiodpoverty
Workshops
D.R.E.W. Projects, Inc. will host workshops starting in 2023 for students and community members about why menstruation matters, inform them of the misinformation and stigmas surrounding menstruation, and the global impact of building awareness about good menstrual hygiene management. #endperiodstigma
Annual Celebrations
As a part of this year's theme, #WeAreCommitted and as a partner with MHDay Global, D.R.E.W. Projects, Inc. will celebrate MHDay on the annual awareness day of May 28th by dedicating feminine hygiene kits to nonprofits in California, serving women and girls experiencing homelessness. We will launch campaign events celebrating women, girls, and periods. We stand in solidarity with organizations abroad, shifting from a call to action to committing to action. #EndPeriodPoverty, #PeriodEducationForAll.