As you all know, it's the time of year where there are a lot of opportunities to give your time, money, and other donations to various charities. At Refugee Resettlement, our offices and halls are filled with donations (in fact, it's become quite a tripping hazard in the main hallway, but we have nowhere else to put the boxes and bags).
In a few weeks I'm going to a Christmas party where the hostess asked that if we don't want to come empty-handed we should bring items for care packets for adults instead of food or a hostess gift.
One of my housemates works in legal services for the homeless. At her office, they give their clients care packets that are put together by various organizations. She said that one thing that is never included is feminine hygiene products. She also said that female clients frequently ask if they have pads or tampons. Since the office doesn't have any, she usually gives them whatever she might happen to have with her.
Even though it had occurred to me before that pads and tampons should be included in care packets, I have to admit it's defiantly not the first thing that comes to my mind. I did some informal research by going on Google and looking up “care packages for the homeless,” “homeless care packages,” and “adult care packages.” Out of about a dozen lists I found, not one included pads or tampons.
Apparently, feminine hygiene products are an easy thing to forget, but why? Maybe it's because the stock image of a person who is homeless is a man. Maybe it's because people would rather donate things that can be used by both men and women. Maybe it's because the amount of money it costs to buy one box of pads or tampons could buy a lot of mini deodorants and mini soaps. I think that aside from the image that comes to mind of a homeless man, a big part of it is the refusal to treat anyone other than the “model patient,” who is always male and, therefore, being unable to see the needs of women that are different from the needs of men.
As any woman knows, pads and tampons are expensive and also very necessary. So, my community member who brought this issue to my attention and I will bring feminine hygiene products with us to the Christmas party for the care packages. I encourage everyone to donate care packages or items for care packages, and I hope anyone who does includes pads and tampons in the items they give. Of course, deodorant, soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, hand warmers, hats, socks, granola bars, etc. are very important too, but I think it's safe to say that most people won't give pads or tampons, so I hope everyone who reads this will.
Sometimes, care packets are called “dignity packets.” This Christmas, give a woman the gift of dignity by including pads and tampons in your care packages for adults who are homeless and adults in poverty.
