On April 30th, the Center for Social Impact (CSI), Alumni of Color Network, Campus Ministry, and Fairfield Bellarmine gathered in St. Ambrose Hall on Fairfield's Bellarmine Campus to host the 2nd Annual Feminine Hygiene Drive. The group secured 3,782 in donated feminine hygiene products, surpassing last year’s total donations by 2,000.
The products were donated to Caroline House, a nonprofit organization in Bridgeport that provides literacy programs such as ESL classes and civics/citizenship tutoring, as well as preschool and after-school programs. Helen Ramos Paiz MA’17, executive director of Caroline House, attended the event and expressed her gratitude for the nonprofit's ongoing partnership with CSI.
Noting Caroline House’s holistic approach to caring for low-income women and children, "it was critical that we raise awareness about the basic needs many women face," said Joel Espada, manager of community partnerships at CSI. "It truly was a humbling and eye-opening experience to participate in and learn from.”
Feminine hygiene products were collected in donation bins on Fairfield's Main Campus and Bellarmine Campus over a two-month period. Individuals could also donate remotely by ordering feminine hygiene products from a curated wish list and shipping their orders directly to Fairfield Bellarmine for packaging.
During the April event, students, faculty members, staff, and alumni sorted products into boxes. “We had a lot of fun organizing the kits and especially enjoyed putting fun stickers in each of them," said Catherine Erol. "It feels wonderful to help our community and provide women and girls with essential items. We hope our work can alleviate some of their burdens,”
Erol played a vital role in supporting the drive through the nonprofit she founded, the Revolving Soap Foundation, which works to address hygiene poverty through increased access to products worldwide.
Julia Murphy, campus minister for justice and immersion, coordinated this year's event with Espada. “Campus Ministry was happy to collaborate with CSI, Fairfield Bellarmine, and the Fairfield Alumni of Color Network on this year’s Feminine Hygiene Drive, as an act of solidarity with our neighbors in Bridgeport," said Murphy. "A Jesuit University exists not only to serve its students, but also to serve the community in which it is located.”
