The Girl Scouts of Western New York’s Pittsford Service Unit recently hosted a menstrual pad packing party to help local girls and women.

Girl Scouts sixth grade and up met on a day off of school to assemble the kits which included 4 pads, 2 liners, a hand sanitizer, a friendship bracelet, a Scensibles disposal bag, and instructions for use, as well as positive messages. The kits were assembled for in-need schools in the Rochester City School District where girls sometimes miss classes or use unsanitary solutions because of their lack of access to supplies. Forty girls gathered at the Pittsford Library for the event and were able to pack 2000 period supply kits.

Sophia Schulitz, a Senior Girl Scout, said, “Period insecurity is scary! Girls around the world miss school or are bullied for this. I am glad we can help some of the girls in our community!”

The Pittsford Service Unit hopes that by providing the kits to girls and making menstrual care something normal to talk about they can end period insecurity and empower girls their own age.

This is the third year the service unit worked with Scensibles, which provided the disposal bags for free and helped the girls organize the party. Scensibles provided 2000 pink satin pouches, 8000 sanitary pads, 4000 hand wipes, 4000 Scensibles bags, and 2000 friendship bracelets. This project is an important part of the company’s charitable efforts. The Girl Scouts provided panty liners for the kits and also the girl power to assemble all of it!

The girls also received $750 from the Pittsford Rotary Club to support their project. This allowed them to increase the size of the kits from previous years of working on this project. Additional supplies were donated to the Pittsford Food Cupboard to assist women in the community who need the supplies.