Starting November 13, 2024, Mayfair’s Girl Up Club organized the yearly Feminine Hygiene Product Drive. Students and faculty members of Mayfair (and other schools within the district) were given the opportunity to donate various items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, soap, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, baby diapers, hair brushes, toys, and primarily womens’ pads and tampons. As students poured in, whether it was through room 208 or the attendance office, large numbers of charitable goods were being handed out. These products are to be transferred to the Alexandria House in Downtown Los Angeles where many Girl Up Clubs within the Southern California coalition will donate their packed goods.
More than a week later, on November 22, 2024, Girl Up hosted its first (and only) community service event. During 7th period, students arrived in room 208 with the excitement of participating in this service! As everyone started to come in, Izel Ramirez, this year’s Girl Up Club President, instructed everyone on how to create care packages with these products. Everyone was able to take their own bags and make as many assorted packages as possible. In addition to the packaging portion of this event, there was a table for drawing and writing Thanksgiving cards. Many members used their creativity to make unique, pretty handwritten cards. There were many various kinds of cards ranging from the famous, adorable cartoon characters such as “Snoopy” and “My Melody” to a classic hand-traced turkey! Everyone had a great time participating in care packaging and creating Thanksgiving cards.
The goal of this project is crystal clear: help the needy women and children in the shelter. However, Ms. Colln, the advisor of Mayfair’s Girl Up, and Izel felt enlightened by this experience as they both shared their feelings and opinions about this drive. It was more than just giving away these items; it taught them what it truly means to be compassionate towards others in need.
“One of the main goals, obviously, is helping people. We always want to try to give back to the community in whatever way we can,” Ms. Colln says. “But I think there is also a bigger goal which is just building the qualities of good human beings. And I think our club does a great job of trying to make sure that we are investing in other people because out in the world, that’s what we need to be able to do, which is to be a community.” With these exact goals in mind, she was grateful for what she had witnessed. “I enjoy seeing everyone getting together, packing the bags, and making the cards,” Ms. Colln comments. “I am feeling like they are making a difference and being selfless which is kind of one of our big components here for Mayfair. One of our students' motto is ‘serving others'.” She believes that this project has reminded her that it is wonderful to be a Monsoon. While following the school’s motto, students were able to find it in their heart to donate these hygiene products for those in time of need.
As she led everyone to wrap these assorted packages and write Thanksgiving cards, there were many things Izel believed and learned from this experience. “I hope that we can help women and children in the Alexandria House,” she states. “These people are experiencing homelessness and trauma, so I hope that we can help relieve some of the stress of finding all these products by giving it to them. There is period poverty and people, especially minorities, who are living in poverty. It is really hard for them to afford these basic hygiene products. Another purpose of this drive is to reduce the stigma around menstruation!” With this hope in her heart, she felt that this project will definitely impact peoples’ lives. As club president, she also learned valuable lessons from this service. “I think this taught me a lot about organizing,” she explains, “But it has also taught me a lot of empathy because working together with others and getting back to community, it has taught me how you can make a difference and change people’s lives.”
By the end of the Feminine Hygiene Product drive, Mayfair Girl Up Club had successfully donated more than 800 pads and tampons which were distributed into around 120 care packages. Each of these packages was filled to the brim with toothbrushes, hair products, deodorant, bar soap, and more! Additionally, there was an estimate of 30 creative, thoughtful handwritten Thanksgiving cards. On November 26, 2024, Mayfair’s Girl Up will meet with the other Girl Up Clubs to gather all items and provide it to the people in the Alexandria House. Because of this movement, the Girl Up Clubs are able to make a difference to these people who are struggling with poverty. Everything you do, no matter how small or huge it is, can always make an impact on another person’s life.
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