Some Catching Up

With our trip to Africa on hold, I have had time to work on the nuts and bolts of making our project work - improving our ability to transfer funds to our partners in Africa, and streamlining the way they report back to us. I was also able to do some “spring cleaning” and organizing of our office and storage area - “Moonlandia.” We continue to be grateful to the Faith United Methodist Church of Schenectady for providing us with this space.

The Faith United Methodist Church - N. Brandywine Avenue, Schenectady.

The Faith United Methodist Church was also the venue for our annual Birthday Bash. Each year I celebrate my birthday by asking for just one thing — menstrual supplies to fight period poverty in our community. We had a fun time with about 50 guest and of course our appropriately themed birthday cake.

Thanks to everyone who attended, to the wonderful girl scouts who counted and stored supplies as well as to those who sent menstrual products. All together we collected over 12,000 products. This year our collection will be used to keep our period pantries stocked.

The Period Pantry project is going strong and is being accessed frequently by local individuals in need of menstrual supplies. Recently, we added two new pantries - one in Albany near the RISSE Center (Refugee and Immigration Support of Emmaus) and another near the CREATE Community Studios Troy location.

We have been holding MoonBees across our region and working on MoonCatcher Kits for the Hispanola Health Partners, a wonderful organization that provides health care to the most vulnerable populations in southeast Haiti. We are so proud to partner with the brave individuals who will bring our kits to distribute from their clinic. Many thanks to our recent MoonBee Hosts — The Schenectady Public Library, Macedonia Baptist Church (Albany), St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church (Schenectady) and the Zonta Club of Albany (pictured below).

I hope to see many of you at one of our upcoming MoonBees! Also next month is the Schenectady Public Library’s Grab Bag Community Clothing Swap where we will be talking about MCP and our solutions to period poverty at home and abroad.

There are so many of you who help make our project work. Let me introduce you to an exceptional young woman who has really contributed to MCP. Chloe Wright is the President of the Glens Falls High School SoroptiMISS Club. She has been working with father - Jake Wright, Managing Director of Turkel Design, to keep scrap Tyvek out of landfills by donating it to The MoonCatcher Project. Tyvek is an important component of our kit that makes the pad carrier waterproof.

Chloe and her team at the Glens Falls SoroptiMISS Club (hosted a Girls’ Night Out in March. This event was designed to strengthen and empower high school girls with life skills, information, and bonding over fun activities. One of the activities - cutting Tyvek - was led by our Board Member, Randi Broadwell. We are so pleased to have this wonderful young woman on our team!

Our on-line dance party fundraiser that was organized by Shake It So has raised over $4,500 so far. These funds will provide MoonCatcher Kits and improve facilities for girls at the Chimbowe and Lingadzi Schools in Malawi. These resources help girls stay in school, giving them the confidence and dignity they deserve.

We are always working on our presence in local media. This month a local newsletter - The 518 - named The MoonCatcher Project their Non-profit of the month.

Be sure to listen to my interview on Sanctuary Radio - and outlet for independent media. Click HERE to listen.

Our cooperatives in Africa continue to be busy producing MoonCatcher Kits — more on that in my next blog post.

Enjoy the Spring everyone!