Event helps ensure girls around the world are able to graduate high school
Volunteers are sought to participate in an upcoming “Days for Girls” workday.
The event will be held Saturday, February 15, from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. at St. Peter’s United Church of Christ, located at 12338 N. St. Peter’s Church Road in Lamar.
Days for Girls is an organization that provides feminine hygiene kits for young girls all over the world; most of the kits prepared at the February 15 event will go to girls in Kenya. With a feminine hygiene kit, girls are able to stay in school all month long and are more likely to graduate. In Kenya, the drop-out rate went from 25% to 3% thanks to Days for Girls kits.
This is the fourth annual Days for Girls workday at St. Peter’s UCC. Jobs will be available for every skill level, and childcare will be provided at the event. A hospitality committee will also serve food to volunteers, and Kendra Lambeck will be available to pamper everyone’s hands throughout the day.
Volunteers are encouraged to bring sewing machines, sergers and cutting tools if they have them, but it is not necessary to do so. Volunteers don’t even need to know how to sew! There will be a variety of jobs with which volunteers can help. One is by purchasing panties (girls’ sizes 10, 12 and 14 and women’s sizes 6 and 7) and bringing them to the workday event. The underwear must be 100% cotton briefs (no bikinis, boyshorts, etc.). The patterned dark prints (flowers and random designs; no superheroes, words, animals, patriotic symbols, etc.) will be used in Days for Girls kits, while others (all white, light-colored or designs that can’t be sent abroad) will be sent to the girls at Uspiritus Children’s Home in Louisville. Also needed are freezer bags (one-gallon Ziploc Freezer bags with no slider), washcloths (good quality, 100% cotton in dark, pretty colors), and PUL moisture-proof fabric.
There are also several parts of the kits that can be completed in advance. To find out more, visit www.daysforgirls.org or call Gayle Morley Jahn at 812-529-8232 for instructions. Reach out to either of these contacts for more information about the fabrics needed as well. If interested in helping with hospitality, contact Judy Neighbors at 812-529-8289.
If interested in helping — especially if you will be bringing a group — call St. Peter’s at 812-529-8232 so that organizers have a rough idea of the number of volunteers.
The simple gift of a washable feminine hygiene kit can be life-changing for a young woman. Here’s your chance to help!
