Where Did Summer Go?

Finally, we have that nip in the air that heralds cooler weather and autumn leaves. It also means harvest time and my garden has not disappointed. Autumn is here!  Where did the summer go?

An exciting event that took place over the summer was the approval by our Board of two new members:  Delaney Spicer and Randi Broadwell.

Randi started her global health journey after graduating from Union College where she participated in an undergraduate fellowship in South Africa. She assisted with an HIV program for mothers and baby pairs. Since then, she has graduated with a master’s from Johns Hopkins University for Community-based Primary Health Care. Randi is passionate about working with programs on the ground to improve the lives of people worldwide. Delaney is a Marketing Manager for the Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership at Georgia Institute of Technology, a national nonprofit based at the university whose mission is to enhance the economic well-being of Georgia by helping manufacturers improve their performance in the global market. Delaney is a digital marketing, social media outreach, and eCommerce specialist with 7+ years of marketing experience. She lives in Atlanta, GA. 

WELCOME DELANEY AND RANDI!

africa update

In Uganda Phoebe has been busy making MoonCatcher Kits and going to schools to teach. She has been able to complete visits to several of the schools funded by and International Rotary Grant spearheaded by our local Rotary Clubs. We have partnered with the Namangongu Rotary Club in Ugandan to provide our menstrual care kit for girls in their area.

Our tailors in Kenya continue to sew and deliver kits too Recently they went to  Bishop Linus Okok Girls Secondary School, delivered 400 kits and calendars and taught our menstrual health curriculum. Bella and Jacky, a heartfelt “thank you.”

Our Malawi team is getting ready to host a group from Together Women Rise. This wonderful organization, that provided us with a grant of $43,000 in 2023, offers travel opportunities for the public to visit some of the many projects they have funded.  Olipa and Emmanuel have put together a day of school and sewing center visits as well as lunch and craft shopping. Vicky, a TWR member from Illinois has agreed to carry 50 pounds of shoelaces for our cooperatives in Malawi,  and Martha from Pennsylvania is carrying labels and turners. I am so grateful. As I have written in the past, inflation in Malawi is extreme.  Shoelaces there now cost 76 cents apiece, so sending them from the US, even with shipping costs (in this case for excess luggage) is actually way less expensive than buying them in-country. Our cooperatives continue to make lots of MoonCatcher Kits and deliver them to schools near Mthuntama and Mzuzu.

INDIA UPDATE:

Earlier this year, our sewing center in New Delhi was closed when the building in which it was located was sold.  Our friends at the Shashi Kiran Charitable Trust are working to distribute the remaining MoonCatcher Kits.  Last month 500 kits were delivered to girls attending the Government High School in Dimapur, Nagaland in the far northeastern part of India.

Earlier this month we had our annual MoonCatcher Board Retreat. Pastor Rob from the Old Dutch Church in Kingston provided a beautiful quiet space for us to spend the day together. These gatherings are a time for us to dive deeper into concerns and new ideas. Board meetings often don’t allow enough time to dive into discussions, so we look forward to being together to do this work. Thank you Pastor Rob.

The Period Pantries are thriving, and we’ve been able to get three more up and running in Albany. Trinity Alliance, The Albany Housing Authority Resource Center and The Boys and Girls Club have pantries outside their buildings that are kept stocked 24/7. To date we’ve provided 16,434 menstrual supplies to menstruators in need through this project.

We were able to see our friends at St Stephens church for a MoonBee in August. October will be busy with several MoonBees. Check out our calendar for ones that are open to the public.

Four Sundays in August and September The MoonCatcher Project (wo)maned a table at the Schenectady Green Market. This was a great opportunity to let local people know who we are and to draw attention to our Schenectady Period Pantries. Each Sunday two volunteers sat at the table and talked about Period Poverty and what the MCP is doing about it. Thank you to all those volunteers.

The MoonWine and Cheese party was a huge success. Charlotte spearheaded this and put together a fun evening complete with yummy appetizers, dinner from Simone’s Kitchen where the event was held, raffle baskets, African crafts and lots of friendly conversation. Thank you to our friends at Simone’s Kitchen and thank you to all who attended or otherwise supported our event.  We brought in over $8,000.

dining for dollars 2024!

And now we are gearing up for our annual dine-at-home lasagna dinner event which we call Dining for Dollars. Soon we’ll be asking for volunteers to help cook, bake, pack and deliver meals. In November we’ll send out forms so you can sign up for a meal either to pick up at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady or to be delivered to your home. Again, we’ll share our profits with Schenectady Street Soldiers a local organization that supports people experiencing homelessness and food insecurity.

MORE INFO COMING SOON!

Once again I have to let you all know how incredibly grateful I am for our wonderful community of volunteers and supporters. We appreciate each and every one of you!

Enjoy a beautiful fall!

Ellie von Wellsheim