Marion Women’s Club members and friends helped tackle period poverty in Marion at its “Generations in Bloom” Mother’s Day Brunch by donating over 250 feminine hygiene products to EmpowHER, a local nonprofit women’s health organization.
The Women’s Club adopted EmpowHER’s mission this year, joining local leaders in tackling period poverty in Marion and raising awareness about women’s health, said Valerie Wigton, Club president. “The first two words in our mission statement are ‘empowering women,’ she added. “What a perfect partnership for our Club.”
“The Marion Women’s Club has a long history of conducting service projects throughout its 130-year history,” Wigton told the sold-out crowd of 100 women at its May 9 brunch. “Most recently, we’ve collected ‘interview-ready’ shoes for the Ohio State Marion/MTC Campus Clothing Locker, baby clothing for Voice of Hope Pregnancy Center, ‘Handbags for Hope’ for Turning Point and the Heart of Ohio Homeless Shelter, and art supplies for the Marion Family YMCA youth program. This year is no exception.”
According to EmpowHER co-founders Cathy Waddell and Darian Curren, period poverty is a real issue in Marion. “We conducted student surveys in all the Marion City and County schools,” explained Curren, a certified nurse midwife. “The results were really surprising. Many teens told us their families often have to choose between buying feminine hygiene products – or food. That’s a real problem – and it’s a choice families shouldn’t have to make. Period poverty also prevents many teens from participating in sports and other after-school activities.”
Curren shared this insight with Waddell, her sister-in-law and a marketing professional, and together they formed EmpowHER. “We also want to help educate young men about women’s health. They’re the brothers, sons, and boyfriends of young women.”
Wigton said she shared the mission of EmpowHER/The Period Project with the Club’s board of directors at its strategic planning meeting late last year. “They were all on board immediately,” she noted. “We decided as a Club, that we would collect feminine hygiene products throughout the year, and donate them to EmpowHER.”
The products are then distributed at Leapin’ Outreach Center in Marion, and throughout the city.
“We are so very grateful to our members and brunch guests who brought in all sorts of feminine hygiene products,” Wigton added. “It’s shows how much our community cares.”
EmpowHER boxes are located at the Club, and donations will be accepted throughout the year.
Community members who would like to join in the project are asked to place feminine hygiene product donations in a plastic bag, close it securely, and drop them off at the Women’s History Resource Center (the former carriage house) on the Women’s Club Home property, located at 1126 E. Center St., Marion.
For more information, visit www.MarionWomensClub.org or search “The Marion Women’s Club & Home” or “Empower/The Period Project” on Facebook.
