Period Packing Event, January 15, 2024
AAUW Southeast Valley branch held a period packing event on January 15, 2024. Members packed 200 period packs for young girls attending six Chandler Unified District Schools. This event is focused on reducing Period Poverty in our community.
Period Poverty is the lack of access to safe and hygienic menstrual products during monthly periods, inaccessibility to basic sanitation services or facilities, and menstrual hygiene education.
Facts About Period Poverty
- 9 million women live in poverty in the U.S. and menstrual products are not covered by SNAP or WIC.
- Menstruators spend $13.50 per month for their period needs.
- Nearly 1 in 5 girls leave school early or skipped school because of no access to menstrual products.
- 21 states, including Arizona, consider menstrual products to be a luxury, and are taxed.
- 84% of teens have missed school, or know someone else who has, due to access of menstrual products.
- Tampon Tax is a sales tax on feminine hygiene products.
- Women spend on average 2535 days menstruating, or about 7 years.
Happy Hour Fashion Show, February 2, 2024
On February 2, 2024, AAUW Southeast Valley Branch held our 2nd Annual Happy Hour Fashion Show Fundraiser. This year the event was sold out and featured SEV members modeling stylish clothing provided by Judy Wear boutique. In addition to the fashion show, guests enjoyed Happy Hour appetizers, a silent auction, a raffle, and learning about the AAUW SEV Scholarship program.
Thanks to the support from our members and guests, the branch raised $10,000 which will support 10 $1000 scholarships for talented women to further their education. These scholarships will be awarded by our scholarship committee to women attending Chandler-Gilbert Community College.
Pictures below are AAUW SEV Branch members modeling during the fashion show.
Ladies Lunch at North Italia in Gilbert, March 8th, 2024
Harvest Compassion Center – June 26, 2024
The June 26 meeting and donation for Harvest Compassion Center was a success! We had 17 members attend and received 2 fully loaded vehicles of donations. Our donations included various food items, soaps, lotions, paper goods, wipes, clothes, children’s books, cash and more. It was indeed an impressive array! Others donated by shopping the Center’s Amazon Wish List and then the items were mailed directly to HCC. The Center was very appreciative of all our efforts. Lori Schweighardt, Community Resource Coordinator for HCC, spoke to us about the origins of the Center and outlined their procedures. The Center works hard to maintain the dignity of all who shop there. Clients choose their items and use a shopping cart, just like a real store. We were all impressed with their work and dedication. There are a few paid staff, but most of the work is done by volunteers. Harvest Compassion Center is a 501(c)3 and also an Arizona Charitable Tax Credit Qualifying Organization.
Lori Schweighardt with Harvest Compassion Center with SEV members