Days for Girls 2024 Cuba Project Update

Great News! Because “sew” many people contributed to all three collection points we were able to send another shipment of kits for the 2024 Cuba project for Global Links ahead of schedule. We are planning to send another shipment of kits with for the 2024 Cuba project in late summer or early fall.

But that doesn’t mean we are done. We continue to receive and process components each week. The steady flow of contributions from teams and other donors allows us to fill our current order and be ready to respond to needs as they arise.

You can send components and donations to Utah or Missouri or Pittsburgh PA. For all USA Collection Point information, click HERE.

On the same day the team in Pittsburgh packed up this shipment for Cuba, we also packed 50 kits that will be headed to the Ukraine/Poland board with DTCare. The Oakdale PA team asked our collection point to help them fill this order that was a little too big for their team to do alone. The Oakdale team is taking the lead on communicating with DTCare about the on-going needs and the collection point is supporting them with kits or components they need (and will need in the future). The Pittsburgh team was able to do this because of the continuous donations that we process.

We appreciate those who continue to send components and donations even when things seem quiet. Trust me, we are always busy getting ready for whatever may come next and looking for opportunities to get the components to those who need them. We update the collection point information HERE as best we can and you can always email as at pittsburgh@daysforgirls.org to ask what is most needed. Needs do change, but chances are, we need carry pouches and underwear. The material for the carry pouch is expensive and it takes a careful sewist to make the pouch. Underwear prices are on the rise, so we really appreciate donors who are able to make contributions from our Amazon wish list.

If you would like to support my team in Pittsburgh, you can check out our Facebook and Instagram @pgh_dfgchapter. Like our posts and send us encouragement, your support means “sew” much to us!

We are grateful for our friends at FUMC who facilitated the kits getting to Robin while he was on route to area hospitals. Our team shares a room with other groups so we weren’t able to be there today to meet Robin, so the kits were stored in another area of the church. It takes a big team to get this all done.

Our most needed item is underwear, specifically, Women’s small and medium underwear. Here are ways you can send underwear to us:

Order through Days for Girls. We can order girls extra-large (same as women’s small). We are hoping women’s sizes are available soon.
Underwear that we have ordered in the past can be found on our Amazon wish list.
Order through fruit of a loom women’s sizes 5 and 6
- Dark colors and busy patterns are best (stain busting) Please double check the underwear are at least 50% cotton. We prefer 100% cotton when possible. Bikinis, briefs, hi cuts, and hipsters are all fineNo boy shorts or thongs (our pads snap around the crotch and these styles do not work to hold our pads in place)
- Use code: FRUIT20 to get 20% off

The Days for Girls Mission is simple: creating a more dignified, free and educated world through access to lasting menstrual health. Their tagline is: Every Girl. Everywhere. Period.

The Days for Girls Pittsburgh Chapter is made up of community volunteers, women from the CCC house, and college students. In addition to the DfG mission, we consider it our mission to build relationships with those volunteering with us. We hope that soon that will include some members of FUMC.

Many DfG teams from around the USA will be sending us components to complete this order. Each standard Days for Girls washable kit includes: 2 waterproof shields, 8 liners, 2 panties, 1 carry pouch, a 100% cotton wash cloth, a small bar of soap, and an ovulation chart and directions, all packaged in a drawstring bag. Those are the things you can see. What you might not notice immediately is that those kits also contain: dignity, education, and independence. These kits and their accompanying education can lift entire communities out of poverty.

To complete these orders we fundraise, request items on our Amazon wish list, and hope to collect JoAnn Fabric Gift cards to purchase supplies. Orders from our Amazon wish list can be shipped directly to FUMC.