Beautiful Summer!

In years past, July was our “down” month. Not any longer! Since the last time I sat down to write a blog entry, MCP has become the supporting organization for the Capital District Period Pantries. For those of you who don’t know, a period pantry is like a little free library except it is stocked with menstrual supplies instead of books. If you need a tampon or some pads you can help yourself or add to them if you are able.

This initiative began In November, 2022, when the Capital District Menstrual Health (CDMH) initiative set up multiple Period Pantries in the capital region, Last month, Claire, Annabelle, and Brynn ended their fellowship with Cornell Cooperative Extension and moved on to new adventures. The MoonCatcher Project adopted the pantries and will continue this amazing work by managing and re-stocking them with help from our dedicated volunteers. Thank you to the fabulous women who have each taken on one pantry to keep supplied. Ginger, Roz, Sherri and Gail are the best. We couldn’t do this without them.

Thank you also to Habitat for Humanity, C.R.E.A.T.E. Community Studios and Studio 4 Hot Yoga and Pilates Studio for putting out collection bins for us to gather supplies for the Pantries.

Want to help? Perhaps you have the ideal location for a menstrual product collection bin. Or maybe you have other ideas about how to grow this project. Contact Charlotte (CharlottemackMCP@gmail.com) or learn more HERE.

We have been working hard to update and improve our menstrual and reproductive health curriculum for both girls and boys.  Recently we provided new curriculum binders to Phoebe and Tabitha in Uganda and Olipa and Emanuel in Malawi. We are preparing to send binders to our coordinators in Kenya as well.

The Giving Circle, an all-volunteer non-profit organization based in Saratoga  Springs, NY recently ordered MoonCatcher Kits to distribute to the schools they support in Uganda. The volunteers were given MCP’s curriculum and provided with training to deliver the lessons. Thank you To Dr Kim Poli for continuing to bring menstrual kits to girls in Giving Circle schools. Kim has sent us the photo (below) of girls learning about menstrual health in the village of Kagoma Gate outside of Jinja, Uganda.

Giving Circle volunteers teach the MCP curriculum to girls in the village of Kigoma Gate, near Jinja, Uganda.

AOET (the AIDS Orphan Education Trust) will deliver 350 MoonCatcher Kits to girls in Uganda next month. These kits were made by our incredible MoonBee volunteers here in the Capital District and by volunteers across the country sewing from home. Dr. Manny from AOET expressed gratitude to all of our volunteers who made this possible. The kits will go to schoolgirls in Bugembe and Lira, Uganda. AOET volunteers will teach our curriculum.

Louisa and Ginger assemble 350 MoonCatcher Kits for AOET to deliver next month in Uganda.

Our MoonCatcher sewing guilds in Africa are busy as ever and send us fabulous photos when they go to schools to deliver kits and teach our curriculum. In Uganda, Phoebe has been to four schools recently, as part of the Rotary International Global Grant developed by the Scotia Rotary Club in cooperation with the Namugongo Rotary Club in Uganda. It is exciting to be able to expand our reach because of this generous grant. Thank you Rotary International!

I have been in communication with a Union College student spending the Summer in Ghana. She’s using our health curriculum to teach women about reproductive health and will add some more content to reach this population.

The Happie Collective on Lark Street in Albany had a sweet little MoonBee in their back room and then asked if they could help us sell our crafts in their store. They have some very cool things for sale. Go check them out at 197 Lark Street, Albany. We are grateful to the volunteers of The American Sewing Guild in Niskayuna. We had a delightful MoonBee with these wonderful women last month.

Charlotte and I tabled at Jerry Burrel Park at a kick-off party for the Sycamore Collective’s Summer meal program. We displayed our Period Pantry information and handed out our MCP annual report. We spoke to many Schenectady neighbors who are interested in our programs. We are hoping to increase collaboration here at home.

Ellie and Charlotte spread the word about The MoonCatcher Project.

It has been a busy summer! Most of our work is behind the scenes as we work hard to raise enough funding to continue our work. Lately our revenue from donations and grants has been down significantly, so we are doing our best to make up the difference. It is not an easy task!

We are doing everything we can to make sure that our fall fundraiser - the annual MoonWine and Cheese Party is a big success. This year, the event will be at Simone’s Kitchen in Schenectady and promises to be a fun (and delicious) party. Please join us! More info HERE.

I hope you are all enjoying this beautiful summer! Stay tuned and stay cool!