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    Mitch ConnorKaryn Polewaczyk
    5/10/15 8:58pm

    THIS IS SO AWESOME

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      Dixie VistaMitch Connor
      5/10/15 9:07pm

      I would love it if posts like this included information like how to donate or get involved. This type of thing is awesome and I would love to help.

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      Lilly (Hungry hungry hipster!)Dixie Vista
      5/10/15 9:09pm

      Yeah, I usually do not have spare money, but I’d really like a link or info on how to donate/get involved as well.

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    FabigailAdamsKaryn Polewaczyk
    5/10/15 11:16pm

    I read this and responded to it pretty strongly. It seems like such a practical, essential, and relatively simple way to help girls around the world. And I'm sure that I'd be able to get at least a dozen friends together to assemble kits. So, I spent the last 30 minutes or so on the Days for Girls website looking into how I can help. In case anybody else is interested, I'll summarize what I've learned so far:

    - DfG kits are comprised of several washable pads and liners, hand sewn out of cotton and moisture barrier fabrics, along with panties, bars of soap, washcloths, and fliers with instructional diagrams. Kits are in hand sewn cotton drawstring bags.

    - The key here is that the items in these kits are reusable, therefore they don't make trash for these locations where disposal options are limited. They are also washable with small amounts of water. Overall the environmental impact of these kits is low, for the girls who will use them.

    - For this reason, the header image in this article is a bit misleading. As totally fun as a party where you and your friends drink and assemble little grab bags of pads n' tamps (THINK of the theme cocktail options!), those kinds of kits wouldn't be super practical for the areas where this kind of thing is most needed.

    - DfG is vigilant about the quality of kit items, and provide very specific instructions of how to (and how not to) make each item. They want kits made to last at least 3 years.

    - DfG provides patterns and very detailed sewing and assembly instructions, along with resources for bulk purchasing of pre-made items like washcloths and panties, and soap bars.

    - Sewing items for DfG kits requires a serger (overlock machine), in addition to a standard sewing machine.

    For that last reason, I've given up my dreams of sewing up a bunch of stuff up for these kits, but I'd still really like to help, so I'm going to look into purchasing fabric and cutting out pattern pieces for assembly by another volunteer with the proper equipment. Fortunately, DfG's website includes a section to connect volunteers with other volunteers, so hopefully I can work something out.

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      VonQuesoFabigailAdams
      5/11/15 1:00am

      ungreyed for great info!

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      MiriamFabigailAdams
      5/11/15 1:27am

      Great summary! One minor correction. I have been sewing for Days for Girls for over a year and I can verify you do NOT have to have an overlock machine. I sew liners for them with my regular at home machine all the time. Please don’t feel you can’t contribute with the sewing machine you have.

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    My Dog Is A PirateKaryn Polewaczyk
    5/10/15 9:16pm

    and are often left to their own devices in creating makeshift pads out of leaves, mattress stuffing and rocks,

    Rocks.

    ROCKS.

    ROCKS.

    If ever I start whining about anything, ever, please remind me of this.





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      My dear, sweet brother Numsie!My Dog Is A Pirate
      5/10/15 9:58pm
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      Marc.MarceloMy Dog Is A Pirate
      5/10/15 10:37pm

      Rocks aren’t even absorbent!

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    PBandKKaryn Polewaczyk
    5/10/15 9:15pm

    Maybe this is nit-picky, but... hygiene kits? Couldn’t they just be called menstruation kits, so we don’t continue to enable idiot dudes like this guy?

    Just call a spade a spade, you know?

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      Emma GolddiggerPBandK
      5/10/15 9:24pm

      Period packs?

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      Tabby GevinsonPBandK
      5/10/15 9:28pm

      Maybe they’re called hygiene kits because the discretion is intended for the benefit of the girls who receive them.

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    Hot Burning Diaper GarbageKaryn Polewaczyk
    5/10/15 9:32pm

    Speaking of ~feminine hygiene~

    I know it’s the epitome of #firstworldproblems by comparison, but Canada is finally reclassifying tampons, pads, and other menstruation-related products as essential, which means that they’re exempt from Sales Tax.

    Cue all the ‘nice guy’ liberals and socialists freaking out about how adding a bunch of barcodes to a list is a huge waste and dumb because a right-wing government is doing it as a reaction to public pressure.

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      ms_morgendorfferHot Burning Diaper Garbage
      5/10/15 10:01pm

      Good on Canada! In Australia, goods and services tax (GST) applies to feminine hygiene products. We’re trying (again) to have them excluded. Anyone care to help us out?

      https://www.communityrun.org/petitions/stop...

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      sparkalipooHot Burning Diaper Garbage
      5/10/15 10:19pm

      well access to pads and tampons is a major issue for homeless women so yay canada! (also it’s a good idea to donate pads and tampons to homeless shelters and stuff like that)

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    KateligulaKaryn Polewaczyk
    5/10/15 9:19pm

    I swear to God I think about what it would be like to not have all the modern things, (toilets, pads, tampons, toilet paper, etc.,) every time I have my period. Every time I inwardly shudder to think that even as bad as it is already, how much worse it could be. Like what did they do in the Middle Ages, when even rags were prohibitively expensive? What did “cave women” do? Were they shunned? Did the group make them go outside no matter what the weather was like? Very happy to hear that this is being addressed among young girls in poor countries. If you can, please provide a link for donations. If you can’t, I’ll try to find it on my own.

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      SlutallicaKateligula
      5/10/15 10:15pm

      I think that all the time too! Seeiously, what did women do before disposable menstration products??? I assumed maybe they used whatever they used for babies (a clothe diaper thing?) I remember reading a story about olden times Japan and they used a washable loincloth type thing, but idk how accurate that is (was a cutesy comic book story about a girl pretending to be a samurai and she awkwardly got her period while training.)

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      StasherKateligula
      5/10/15 11:12pm

      I’ve always thought the SAME EXACT THING when learning about past times!!!

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    My dear, sweet brother Numsie!Karyn Polewaczyk
    5/10/15 9:04pm

    creating makeshift pads out of rocks

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      $kaycogKaryn Polewaczyk
      5/10/15 9:15pm

      Obligatory.

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        Lilly (Hungry hungry hipster!)$kaycog
        5/10/15 9:27pm

        That is freaking hilarious

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      IvrinielKaryn Polewaczyk
      5/11/15 7:35am

      Pleased to see that the “But we should just give them Diva cups” brigade doesn’t seem to have made an appearance.

      Nothing against Diva cups, but in this context, teaching women to make their own cloth pads is a better long term solution than regular donations of Diva cups.

      Also, cloth pads are good for three years? I have mine for a lot longer than that.

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        House Milkshaker of DaftbollocksIvriniel
        5/11/15 9:23am

        Diva cups are not exactly cheap nor do they work for everyone but an affordable version for women in parts of the world without resources would not be a bad idea. At least it could be reused. And would provide some level of choice. It is much easier and quicker to clean silicone than cloth. Sometimes detergents are very very expensive in some developing countries too.

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        captmurphtang1House Milkshaker of Daftbollocks
        5/11/15 9:51am

        Possible issues with diva cups:

        -Young women in countries where menstruation is considered this bad are usually expected to remain virgins until marriage. While yes, not everyone has a hymen, I think the idea of putting something into their vaginas might be considered even more taboo in their cultures. Like the issues/rumours surrounding tampons and virginity.

        -Cleaning a diva cup is going to be very obvious vs. washing a cloth. People will notice. If there is shame around periods, the girls probably do not want to draw attention to the fact that they have their period. Christ, I remember in highschool I wanted non-crinkly tampon wrappers, and the worst I would have got is a “LOL you’re PMS-ing hahaha” >.>

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      Yo MamaKaryn Polewaczyk
      5/10/15 9:03pm

      This article hit me right in the feels … but still I have to ask … Rocks? I don’t grok rocks. Also, go out and stay with the cattle? What a hateful way to treat anyone.

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        digbetteYo Mama
        5/11/15 1:10am

        I actually came across a girl who did this when I was women’s officer. The idea is not that the rock is absorbent. It acts as a plug to stop leakages. It’s literally just putting a rock in there to stop the blood from flooding down your leg.

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        Yo Mamadigbette
        5/11/15 1:13am

        Thank you for the answer. I’m definitely having to check my privilege on this one.

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