Human dignity should not be considered a luxury, yet many women in the U.S. suffer from period poverty, lacking financial resources to purchase basic feminine hygiene and essential personal care products. Many women in our community have been forced to choose between buying food for their families or sanitary products. Imagine you have just used your last items and have no money to purchase more. The Dignity Grows organization pledges to make a difference in women’s lives by providing personal hygiene supplies for women in need.

Women’s Philanthropy of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven’s new Dignity Grows™ chapter is raising significant dollars and has already placed its first order of bags and supplies for women in our Greater New Haven community. Our first distribution partners are Jewish Family Servie of Greater New Haven, the Diaper Bank of Connecticut and Mothers of Victim, Inc.

They held a tote bag packing party on May 2 in COVID-safe environment to pack supplies for recipients and will continue to hold more in the near future. Each month, recipients get reusable zipper-top totes filled with a month's supply of hygiene products. Volunteers support the project by donating funds to purchase supplies for the totes and/or giving their time to help pack the totes. Check the community calendar frequently for the next “Packing Parties!”

To learn more or to get involved, visit jewishnewhaven.org/womens-network/ dignity-grows, or contact Chief Development Officer Amy Holtz at aholtz@jewishnewhaven.org or (203) 387-2424 x254