FUNDRAISING OPPORTUNITIES

FUNDRAISING

As you're all probably aware, our Days for Girls chapter relies entirely on donations to operate.  All of the kit supplies you bring in, all the contributions you make to online fundraisers, all the many hours you spend cutting, pressing, sewing, serging, etc., it all adds up to life-changing kits.  We get NO financial support from headquarters.

So, I'm always delighted when I can tell you about a fundraising opportunity, and doubly pleased when there are two to announce:

THE FIRST ONE:  

The last weekend in August we will hold a big yard sale in conjunction with the Springfield Lions Club, which has been very supportive of our chapter.  At this time, we're expecting to be open for business from 9:00 to 4:00 Friday, Saturday and Sunday, August 26, 27 and 28.  It will be at 250 Palomino Drive, between Harlow and Sorrel, in Eugene.  Mark your calendars.

There are four ways you can help:  

1. Donate some great (pre-priced) items to the sale
2. Help out for a few hours setting up and/or working at the event
3. Come to the sale and BUY when you spot those items you can't live without, or need to give as gifts
4. Spread the word!  Tell everyone you know who loves garage sales, or who wants to support Days for Girls.  Post it at work, at church, in newsletters, etc.  

If you have garage sale expertise, display tables, ideas for something out of the ordinary (bake sale, etc.) please let me know.  It is a very big driveway, so we will have lots of room for enticing merchandise!

THE SECOND ONE:

DFGI has just notified us that starting in August, they will once again be keeping 10 percent of all monetary donations made to our chapter, except during one or two online fundraisers.  And here's the first one, where 100% of all contributions will go to our group.

There will be an online fundraiser running from September 14 to October 26.  Supporters of our Eugene/Springfield chapter donated several hundred dollars in the Revlon Challenge last year.  If you're considering a monetary contribution to our chapter, this would be the time to do it.  I'll give you more information in September, but you would just go to the fundraiser website (I'll give you the exact link later), scroll down to find this picture of some bags and shields and the words "Eugene, OR," and click on that.  

You can be anonymous, you can leave a message, you can donate in honor or memory of somebody.  All will improve the lives of some appreciative girls!  If you want your contribution to be in honor of someone, I also have slips of paper you can give them that say that has been done.  Just let me know.

Announcing 2016 Revlon Challenge 

September 14th - Oct 26th

The Revlon Challenge has invited us to participate again this year and the benefits are bigger and more prize levels.  Last year, with the amazing support of DfG Chapters, Teams and supporters, we were able to win 4th Place. That was a phenomenal accomplishment since we were up against the big leagues (like American Cancer Society… big). The challenge will serve as the 2016 Annual Days for Girls Crowdrise Challenge and thanks to Revlon and Days for Girls International, ALL proceeds, including the processing fees, will be covered! 100% for you during the challenge. So you can set a goal of doing your entire planned annual funding if you’d like and help us all win BIG for girls.

UNDERWEAR

August was the time of year in 2014 and 2015 that Target and Walmart had their best deals on girls' briefs.  What we've seen previously was 9-packs with 3 bonus pairs, for as low as $5.99.  So, 50¢ a pair, and if you use a Target card, you can get an additional discount.  The fabrics typically have a variety of designs and colors, often including ones too light to hide stains well.  

This week's Walmart flyer lists 12-packs of Hanes girls' briefs for $6.94 (59¢ a pair).  That may or may not be the lowest price of the season.  They also have women's 8-packs for $6.94 (89¢ a pair), also an excellent deal.  Target.com has 9-packs of girls briefs for $5.99 (60¢ a pair).  Please remember that we use regular briefs, not low-cut.  Previously they approved hipsters, but have found that the briefs work better.

We're delighted that Laura continues to dye our too-light panties in lovely, rich, stain-hiding colors.  Here's a peek at the most recent batch she returned, along with some flannel that was previously too light.  All very beautiful and usable now!  

Thank you SO much, Laura!  Your continuing willingness to dye means that we can use more of the undies in the packs, and can use more of the flannel and washcloths donated to us. Last year we traded those with animal prints with Bags of Love, so 100% of the briefs met DFG guidelines.

What size briefs we use will vary depending on the group that receives them.  For that reason, we normally don't put our kits together until we've received a request and know what underwear sizes they have requested.

We should be sending a few hundred kits to Ugandan refugees in the fall, and hope to soon know what sizes they'd like us to pack.

In any case, the sizes DFGI says to buy are Girls' 10, 12, 14, and 16 and Women's 5, 6 and 7.  They say that Girls' 16 is the same as Women's 5.  

SOME STATISTICS--all continually increasing

101 . . . . Days for Girls has distributed kits to girls and women in 101 countries

500  . . . . Our Chapter has sent over 500 kits and some components to Kenya, Ghana, Uganda, Zimbabwe and India, as well as a few hundred liners to headquarters (they didn't say where they were headed)

670 . . . . There are now 670 Days for Girls Chapters and Teams around the world.  Several come on board every week.

350,000 . . . . Days for Girls has changed the lives of over 350,000 girls and women . . . and counting!  It's so impressive to think we're giving back about 60 days a year to each of them!  What would you do with 60 extra days a year?

KIT CHANGES

Days for Girls listens to the feedback received from the girls and women using the kits.  A recent change is based on information that for some with heavy flow and some with fistulas or other conditions, our regular kits were not absorbent enough.  We had two absorbencies--regular and postpartum.  There is now a new "Heavy Flow" design to replace the postpartum kit, and it includes a regular and a longer shield, and more liners in two sizes.  The good news is that we will still cut our flannel strips the same width.  Once the two layers are sewn together, they'll then be cut into 2 different lengths--8.75" and 11.5".  One will be a square and the other a rectangle.  

This photo shows the new Heavy Flow liner open, folded in fourths to be used in a regular shield, and folded in thirds for the longer shield.  The width ends up the same.  A regular liner can be inserted inside the latter configuration, which would give 12 layers of flannel without extra bulk in the pockets.  Or you could put the shorter folded version of this Heavy Flow liner inside the longer version for 14 layers in the middle.  Nifty, eh? 

NEXT WORKDAY

The third Sunday in August falls on the 21st.  We'll be at Our Sewing Room from 10 to 5.  I hope you can join us.  If you have some things to contribute to the garage sale fundraiser, you can bring them that day.

July Workday and News

OUR JULY WORKDAY

Our next workday is next Sunday, July 17.  I hope you can make it.  As usual, we have a variety of tasks to choose from.  Please bring standard tools--sharp scissors, rotary cutter with sharp blade, seam ripper, empty bobbins, etc., depending on what job(s) you want to work on.  And if your chosen task involves using a serger or machine, please bring yours.

LEARN TO SEW SHIELDS

Are you an experienced seamstress who would like to do slow, precise sewing on your domestic machine? I'd like to train some more people to work on shields.  

Currently all of our shield makers sew at home, after making one or two that passed the quality check with me.  Would you like to be part of that group? On Sunday, I'd like to teach any new people who are interested -- say at about 2:00. Please bring your machine threaded with medium blue to navy thread--bobbin too.

DONATING SUPPLIES

If you bring any supplies to donate, please list the quantity on the spreadsheet as you sign in.  This information is part of what I report to headquarters each month.  If you don't make it to a workday, but drop something off at Our Sewing Room on another day, please leave a note or email me with your name and what you donated. This includes items you sewed at home.  If you'd like a receipt for tax purposes for your year's in-kind or monetary donations, please ask me or Mary Jo.

You all have probably read the orange half-sheet flyer that has our wish list on the back. What you may not know, is that I update that every month or two as I print more.  The main place for changes is on the wish list side, which has supplies we use "listed in order of current need."  Our need for supplies is ongoing, so I hope you're buying mostly when you see a price is reduced.  Right now, a good thing to be on the lookout for is polyester serger and sewing machine thread, in medium to dark colors.  Our liners look more professional when the thread matches, and we go through a lot of it!  Another item we seem to run out of quickly is Fraycheck, which we use on the ends of the drawstrings on our bags.  This doesn't mean we don't need any more briefs, soaps or washcloths, etc.--it just means we have lower inventory of the items near the top of the list.

Rather than your having to remember to pick up a new flyer every month, I'll start pasting any updates into this blog.  That should save some paper and ink!  But, of course please feel free to take one of the orange handouts and keep it in your purse or car.

NEW KIT OPTION

The design of the kits we make and distribute is based on feedback from the women and girls who use them.  Over the years, Days for Girls has changed the shapes of the shields and liners, number of items included in a kit, and many other things thanks to the suggestions they hear from the recipients.

We currently have been offering two "absorbencies" of kits--regular and postpartum.  Now the postpartum kits are being replaced by a newly-designed "heavy flow kit."  Our chapter hasn't had any requests for postpartum kits yet, other than a handful that were taken to Kenya as samples, but I suspect we will be asked for some heavy flow kits in the future.  

Here's a short video featuring founder Celeste Mergens showing the design of the heavy flow kit and how it works.  Design version/tweak #28!  I like the idea of a smaller liner being folded inside the larger one, doubling the absorbency but making it no more difficult to insert in a shield than a single liner.

UGANDA

In the DFG works currently is a September shipment of 5000 kits for Ugandan refugee women and girls.  Our chapter will be part of that!

KOREA

Here's an article on the menstrual challenges faced by Korean girls and women.

GARAGE SALE

We are hoping to raise some money for our chapter's kit expenses with a garage sale which will be held the last weekend in August.  I hope you can contribute lots of appealing items and also stop by to find some things you can't live without.  Of course, we will also need folks to volunteer.  And spread the word!  Details soon.  

UPDATED INSTRUCTIONS

Days for Girls recently updated the look of their sewing instructions on their website.  No major changes other than the new heavy flow liners, but they're easier to follow.  Go to daysforgirls.org, and click on "Get Involved," then "Make DFG kits." You can get patterns, instructions, and also watch videos on making the different components.  If you want to attend my shield-making training on Sunday, it would be a good idea if you'd read the instructions and watch the video in advance.  I'll have materials for you to sew--just bring your sewing machine and have medium/dark blue or navy thread on the machine and bobbin.

SEE YOU SOON!

Hope to see you all on Sunday at Our Sewing Room.  Stay as long as you can between 10 am and 5 pm.  We have lots to do and talk about this month!

YAY for New York City!!

Great news that caught my eye this morning--New York City will make menstrual products available free at shelters, schools and prisons!  What fantastic news!  I sincerely hope other cities will follow their lead.

I'm so glad the hardships caused by periods are seeing the light of day, being discussed, and solutions sought.  An American woman typically spends $7 to $10 a month on tampons and pads, necessary protections if she's going to fully participate in life.  That's about $18,000 in her lifetime.  Difficult when you're struggling to make ends meet, and tampons and pads are not approved for purchase with food stamps.  Fifteen states still tax tampons and pads. Toilet paper, considered necessary for hygiene, is provided freely in public rest rooms.  But other than in NYC, no free feminine hygiene supplies. 

I was contacted over a year ago by a young woman who was in on the ground floor of creating a nonprofit to provide feminine hygiene products to homeless women in Lane, Benton and Multnomah Counties.  It is called Rosie or Rosie Center, and they have office space above First Place on Amazon Parkway at 19th.  All of the staff is volunteer, and they are UO and OSU students (male and female!).  They've done their homework, and the articles on their blog are interesting and informative.  As their donor base and funding grows, they hope to expand their recipient list to other women living in poverty--not just those in shelters. 

A bit late, but in honor of Fathers' Day, you might enjoy this article about wearing pads, from a man's point of view.

If you've ever struggled with the tension on a serger, you might want to read this blog that explains very clearly what adjusting each knob one way or the other will do to a particular thread.  Good photographs.

I hope none of you went to Our Sewing Room on Father's Day, because June is the one month that we don't meet on the 3rd Sunday.  Our June work day is this upcoming Sunday, the 26th.  We'll be at Our Sewing Room from 10 to 5.  Please join us if you can.

We always need people to serge, but if that's something you'd like to do this time, please bring your own serger.  Ours are being rather uncooperative.  We have lots of fabric to press, lots of fabric to cut (please bring your rotary cutter with a sharp blade if this interests you).  There are many other jobs--some that require sewing skills and many that don't. Most of us who sew are most comfortable working on our own familiar machines.  If you'd like to learn how to use the Accuquilt die cut machine to cut out our shields, or affix snaps with the snap press, please let me know.

As we age, our desire to receive "things" as gifts seems to decline.  If you'd like to give someone a gift by donating to our Days for Girls chapter in their honor, please let me know.  I have a little acknowledgment paper you can present saying that a contribution to Days for Girls has been made in their honor.

It's been six weeks since our last workday.  I'm really looking forward to seeing everyone on the 26th!  If you can't join us, but want to drop items off, you can stop by Sunday, or leave them with Mary Jo at Our Sewing Room on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday.  If none of those options work for you, let me know and we'll figure something out.

Busy

Our May workday was a busy one with lots of first-timers joining the regulars.  We had 20-some volunteers on the 15th, including folks from Portland, Corvallis, and Junction City, as well as lots from the local area.  We got so much done!  My van was very full on the way to Our Sewing Room and even more packed on the way home.  Thanks to everybody for all of your careful work, donations, dedication and camaraderie.  As usual, I forgot to take pictures most of the day--please remind me in the future!  I promise I won't think you're self promoting!  Photos make the blog look better!

These few photos show just some of the tasks accomplished--pockets prepared for the shields, miles of fabric pressed, bags sewn, liners serged.

 Last week, I completed putting snaps on 6 dozen shields.  

My 4 year-old granddaughter asked to help, and it turns out she's a whiz at putting the caps of the snaps in the pre-poked holes of the shields. 

Our shields are typically sewn in batches by color, so the seamstresses don't have to change the color of thread on their machines too often.  Consequently, it was easy enough to give her a handful of caps of a particular color for each batch.  She was even great at putting the second cap on the correct side--making fewer mistakes than some of us adults do!

I'm pleased to announce that the Duck quilt that Patty made to raffle off for us brought in over $100.  (Here's the aforementioned Snap Assistant holding the quilt that's much larger than she is.)

Fittingly, the lucky winner was Henry, an active member of the Springfield Lions Club, which has been so supportive of our group.  Thanks again, Patty, for being so generous with your time, and thanks to all of you who supported us by buying tickets.  And, congratulations to Henry!

Laura continues to do such a wonderful job on dying our undies.  She's recently been experimenting with tossing in some pretty fabric that is too light.  Of course, to save on labor and dye, we prefer that the fabric we work with already be great stain-hiding colors, but when it's a donation, it's worth a try to make it darker.  These all had white backgrounds, and are now useable for our components, thanks to Laura!

When I went to pick up the most recent dying batch last week, Laura gave me a bag of fabric a friend of hers had donated.  Here are some stain-hiding pieces in that donation.

Obviously, yardage is easier to work with than small pieces, but in quilting-weight cotton, we can use smaller pieces.  Our minimum size of fabric to use for pockets measures 4.5" x 5".  What we work with most easily is strips 5" wide.  We fold those in half lengthwise, press wrong sides together, topstitch 1/4" from the fold (in matching polyester thread), then cut into 4.5" pieces for the pockets.  Pocket fabric must be busy and dark enough to hide stains.  If you have some that qualifies and want to make it into pockets for us, that's fantastic and very much appreciated.  Just remember the fabric design restrictions (see previous post).  When putting the shield pieces together, it's nice to be able to choose already-sewn pockets that look great with the shield's main fabric.

I was at JoAnn fabrics a few days ago, and came across a floral flannel I hadn't seen there before.  My coupons weren't that great, so I didn't buy it, but went home and found it on their website.  All fabrics were 60% off for 2 days, but unfortunately, this one was excluded from online sales.  I think it'll be outstanding for liners--busy, stain-hiding colors, pretty, and no animals!

Yesterday, my neighbor alerted me to an excellent article in the BBC online.  It's one of the most detailed I've come across about the menstrual issues challenging women and girls around the world, and some of the other groups which are also working to eliminate them.  Please take the time to read it.

I hope you're able to join us this month.  Throughout the year, we meet at Our Sewing Room on the 3rd Sunday of each month.  Except this month!    In June, the 3rd Sunday is Fathers' Day, which would cause conflicts for many.  So, in June only, we're meeting on the 4th Sunday, June 26th.  Please join us for as much time as you have available.  Some stay the whole time, others for part of the day, still others just drop off contributions.  Some bring lunch and others eat at one of the fun restaurants in the downtown area.

WIN A QUILT!

A Raffle Quilt

To raise money for our kit-making expenses, this month we are raffling a green and gold lap quilt that is sure to appeal to all you Duck fans out there.  Days for Girls super volunteer Patty created this charmer and took the time to make it absolutely reversible.  Of course, you can always use both sides of a quilt, but both sides of this one are appealing enough to be called the front.  It measures 51" x 62".  What a great gift for that rabid UO fan, young or old! Patty donated all of the fabric and her hours sewing it so every dollar you spend on a chance to win it will benefit the girls who receive our kits.

A single ticket costs $1.  The bargain price is $5 for six tickets.  At our workday this Sunday, we will draw the winner's name.  Be sure you've got your ticket in there.  My granddaughter, who has no university loyalties, adores this quilt because it has her two favorite colors.   She declared it to be the perfect size for a picnic.

Sponsor a Kit

Another way you can help our Chapter financially is by sponsoring a kit. The supplies in a kit cost $10-12 dollars--the price varies  as we try to stock up during sales on different components.  If you'd like to sponsor a kit in someone's honor, ask for one of these little slips of paper when you make your donation.

In the News

I understand that Glamour Magazine has a small bit on Days for Girls in their June issue, on the same page as the message from the editor.

And this morning I found this article in Odyssey Online.

In-kind donations

Thank you to all of you who continue to bring in donations of kit supplies!  This month we received washcloths, girls' briefs, Ziplocs, serger thread, lovely fabric, and serger a that needed a new home.  And, I connected with someone whose group donated 100 kits to our chapter!  And as always, many thanks to Laura who does a beautiful job of dying all our too-light undies.

Days for Girls Summit

Last Thursday, Days for Girls had a leadership summit online.  One interesting announcement was that we now can use some fabrics with animals/people in the design.  We still need to avoid those with faces, and any with insects.  Remember that the kits are going to adolescents, so nothing too juvenile!  Here's an updated list:

All fabric should be 100% cotton and follow these guidelines:

• Appealing Medium to Dark colors, with patterns that help hide stains. 
• Busy botanical, geometric, batik, etc. patterns are best. 
• No light colored fabrics that will easily show stains
• No prints with faces/eyes (animals, fish, people, etc.)
• No insects or snakes (butterflies are okay)
• No camouflage 
• No weapons
• No solid saffron fabric for Asia (monk robe yellow)--ok in patterns
• No cartoon or TV characters
• No pop culture 
• No national flags
• No glam
• No bedsheets

Join Us!

We get a lot done at our monthly workdays, and enjoy ourselves too.

 (A side note--my quilt guild is raffling the red and white quilt above.  I have tickets for that too if you're interested).

I hope you can join us this Sunday, May 15th  We'll be at Our Sewing Room from 10-5.  Come for as much time as you can spare.  We have tasks for folks who are experts on sewing machines and sergers, as well as even more jobs for those who don't sew or serge.  If you want to sew or serge, please bring your machine.  Other helpful items are spare bobbins, sharp scissors, and seam rippers.

Our gatherings are the 3rd Sunday of the month, except in June.  Because of Father's Day, we'll meet on the 4th Sunday in June only.

April Doings

April 2016 is a month where I get to spread the word a bit more than usual.  In addition to our regular workday on the 17th, I've had or will have the opportunity to tell others about what we do:

I spoke at the Cascade Lions meeting last week.

Yesterday, I had an information table at the Pioneer Quilters' Quilt Show at the Lane County Historical Museum and spoke to visitors there about Days for Girls.  

On Wednesday, I will speak at a PEO group meeting.

On April 30, I'll have an information table at the Women's Symposium at the Wheeler Pavillion.

Most people I meet have been like I was--totally unaware of the menstrual challenges confronting women in developing countries.  The problems we're working to solve had simply never crossed their minds.  Please take the opportunity to tell people about what Days for Girls does.  Encourage them to join and support us!

One simple kit--about $10-$12 worth of materials and our dedicated hours--makes such a difference, giving girls 5 days back each month.  That adds up to 60 days a year, or 6 months over the predicted 3-year life of a kit.  That's huge!  It's nearly 20% of their lives!  What would you do if you were given an additional 5 days each month? 

Our workday for April will be on the 17th.  As usual, it's helpful if you bring your machine, and tools such as seam ripper, rotary cutter, darning needle, empty bobbin, etc., depending on what aspect of kit making you'd like to work on.  We're there from 10 to 5.  Please join us for as much time as you have available.  

We also need people who will take home stacks or bolts of fabric to wash, dry and press it.  Bolts of flannel typically have at least 8 yards on them.  We cut or tear them into 2.5 yard lengths before washing them.  Anything much longer ends up being harder to work with.

Mumbai!

At a Women's Gift charity scrabble luncheon last month, I met Eileen who was planning to take a tour in Mumbai in a couple of weeks.  I told her about Days for Girls, and wondered if she'd be interested in transporting our kits, if I could hook up with an agency that could do the distribution.  After lunch, I showed her the sample kit I keep in the car, she said yes, and we exchanged information.  I contacted DFG Headquarters and told them we had transportation for kits if they had somebody in Mumbai to do the distribution and education.  The emails started flying, and volunteers on three continents became involved--Jillian of Days for Girls in Italy has distributed elsewhere in India, and contacted folks there--Carole, Kanchan and Nayantara.  I'm old enough to still be in awe at what we can accomplish around the world in this internet age!  We ended up with two groups delighted to receive and distribute our kits.

Since Eileen's personal belongings were able to fit in her carry-on, she could check two 50-pound bags.  Her travel companion Inge said she'd help out too--that meant four 50-pound bags! About twice what I could put together before they left.  Ellen heads up the Central Oregon Chapter, and offered kits they had already assembled.  Ellen was out of town, but with the help of her husband and her friend Cynthia heading this way, her kits were delivered to my doorstep Sunday afternoon.  I went to two BiMarts and found four duffel bags that were just under the maximum size (thanks to Gwen for the tip), and I even sewed Days for Girls labels on the handles to make them easy to spot at airports.  I packed them by underwear size--50 each of sizes 10 and 12 for both groups, and delivered them to Eileen's home that night--she took off in the morning.

The morning after Eileen and Inge arrived in Mumbai, the kits were picked up and on their way to changing lives.  These 200 kits will help girls stay in school and live their lives fully--giving back 1000 days each month.  The power in these pretty little kits is amazing!

Thanks to all of you who've contributed supplies, made a donation, sewed, glued, threaded,  serged, washed, dried and ironed fabric, and done all the many other tasks that make this all possible! I'm so grateful for all of you!  

The Indian culture has several taboos surrounding menstruation.  A Google search turns up so many articles.  Here are just a few:

The Guardian
CNN
on NPR
in The Guardian again

In February we had a hard-working crew at our third-Sunday workday.  Lots of pinning, sewing, serging, cutting, pressing, snapping, and much more.  And I did remember to take some photos.

We have a  new Days for Girls t-shirt (which cost $25) available for a donation to our chapter.  It measures 48" across the chest. Let me know if you'd like to make a stylish addition to your wardrobe. I'll bring it on Sunday.

I hope you can join us at Our Sewing Room this Sunday, March 20.  We will be there from 10 am to 5 pm.  If you'd like to sew, there are machines to borrow, but most of us are more comfortable bringing our own machines.   Sergers, please bring your own machine if possible.  Depending on what task you want to perform, other helpful items are sharp scissors, extra needles and bobbins, a darning needle, a seam ripper, and/or?

PS--Days for Girls is included in an article in Self magazine.  Check it out.