The Monthly Period-ical May 2021 Issue
This month, we are celebrating our Mothers and their infinite wisdom! In this issue, we also feature:
Period Partner, Patti Hughes, CEO Natural Life
Volunteer Spotlight, Scottie May
Menstrual Matters
Advocacy in Action
Professional Women’s Council Collection Drive
Period Poverty Awareness Week May 24-30
Top left: Patti Hughes with her mom, Mimi Hanna; top right: Chris Warren with his mother, Lisa Warren. Bottom left: Kendra Gillespie (second from the front) with her mom, Charmain Anderson; bottom right: Marta Perez-Chomat and her mother, Kerrie Slattery.
Celebrating Mom and
Her Nuggets of Wisdom
Mother’s Day is a celebration honoring the mother of the family, motherhood, and the influence of mothers in society. It’s celebrated in over 40 countries on various days in many parts of the world but commonly in the months of March or May. Our mothers leave an indelible mark on our lives, passing down words of wisdom that often influence us in many ways. Renewing Dignity board members reflect on some of the “nuggets of wisdom” their mothers passed on to them.
Kendra Gillespie: Growing up, I thought for sure when I became an adult I’d finally be able to prove to my mom, Charmain Anderson, that not everything she said was true. But I’m here. I’m an adult. And I’ve yet to prove her wrong! I’m now grateful for all the lessons, the hard truths that I now repeat like “You can’t control people’s actions, but you can control how you respond to them” in a world where I want to just make everyone happy. A timeless cultural gem she passed along is “Fi yuh cyaa be un-fi yuh,” a Jamaican saying encouraging you to go after your goals because what is set to be yours will be yours.
Patti Hughes: I grew up with a mother who loved to make things...she turned her passion into a thriving business, becoming my biggest role model. My mother, Mimi Hanna, is the deepest root to the Natural Life story, and her love as well as her support has given me the confidence to do anything I set my mind to do! My favorite words of wisdom from her are, “Trust yourself...you know more than you think!”
Audrey Moran: My mom, Glady McKibbin, taught me, “Love what you do and you will never work a day in your life!”
Donna Orender: The best advice my mom, Sherry Chait, gave me was “You will never get it if you never ask.”
Marta Perez-Chomat: My mother, Kerrie Slattery, is the most hardworking and loving person I know! Her advice, “Always take the high road and treat everyone with compassion, even if they aren't kind to you,” has strengthened my relationships as an adult and brought me peace.
Chris Warren: A great reminder from my mom, Lisa Warren, is “You should never convince someone to like you. Be yourself. If they like you, great, and if they don’t, also great.” Her words are a meaningful reminder of who to spend time with and to be confidently me.
Patti Hughes, Founding Board Member
Ponte Vedra resident Patti Hughes didn’t set out to start her thriving Natural Life company 25 years ago. It just organically happened. “I wasn’t very happy in my sales job at the time, so I started creating things on the side with my original black and white photographs,” she said. She began taking photos of things she loved, like dogs on the beach, Adirondack chairs and words written in the sand.
Soon, family and friends began buying photos off her wall, so she signed up to sell her items at a local arts market and the rest is history, as they say. “Creating treasures and building Natural Life became such a passion that it just kept growing,” said Hughes. “I love that it’s evolved into a lifestyle brand loved by women and girls of all ages, bringing people hope and happiness.”
Because Natural Life loves to inspire people to “Give and Live Happy,” Hughes says her company wants to continue to support by giving, sharing and helping people and organizations, like Renewing Dignity, whose mission is to help make the world a better place. Hughes heard about Renewing Dignity from Jan Healy, founder and president, who she has admired over the years.
When she learned about period poverty, the facts and Healy’s mission to eliminate period poverty, she immediately wanted to get involved, helping with awareness and fundraising. “When you learn about period poverty and the fact that period supplies aren’t eligible for purchase with food stamps, it’s shocking! Natural Life wants to help Renewing Dignity spread the word and fix this issue in Northeast Florida...and then work on fixing it everywhere.”
As a founding board member, Hughes has enjoyed watching Renewing Dignity grow over the last two years. “Renewing Dignity has provided immediate relief in the community forming partnerships to distribute an enormous amount of free tampons and pads for people in need, all while raising period poverty awareness and making a positive impact for legislative changes!”
Scottie May, Volunteer
What do you enjoy about being a Renewing Dignity volunteer?
As a mom, I really feel for the teens that either don't have access or feel they need to ration their period products. I'm so thrilled that Jan Healy saw this need and has been working to fill it
What has been your coolest experience as a volunteer?
I love helping Renewing Dignity at the Feeding Northeast Florida mobile pantry at Regency. It's a great team and the people that come through are so happy to get pads and tampons.
How long have you lived in Jacksonville? Where else have you lived?
I’m from Pennsylvania but have lived in Jacksonville for 14 years.
What do you do to de-stress or relax?
Listen to true crime podcasts.
What’s at the top of your bucket list?
Figuring out what I want to be when I grow up.
Tell us a few of your favorite things:
Band: Black Keys
Book: “One Hundred Years of Solitude,” “Pride and Prejudice” and “A Confederacy of Dunces”
Treat: Twizzlers or dark chocolate
Movie line: "What, like it's hard?"
Season: When the tourists leave
Sport to watch: HGTV home renovations
The right menstrual products can make a major difference in the quality of life, confidence and even your laundry! Every menstruator should have access to products that keep them comfortable and able to participate in school, work and social life without shame.
Although many people of all genders are familiar with pads and tampons, did you know that there are more types of menstrual products? The menstrual product industry has been undergoing an exciting period of innovation, much of it influenced by women-led creators with a focus on sustainability. Many new companies are creating convenient, affordable and reusable products that manage menstruation comfortably while also being healthier for the planet. The two major categories are menstrual cups as well as reusable pads and underwear.
Menstrual cups are silicone cups that can be folded and placed in the vagina. They sit in a location similar to a tampon, with the same comfort with correct use. They collect menstrual blood and are removed, washed and reinserted by the menstruator. The up-front cost is more than a box of tampons or pads but they are reusable for months or years. The market is exploding with brands and some of them include Diva Cup, Softdisc, Lunette, Lena, Cora Cup and many more!
Reusable and absorbable innovative materials have allowed for a burgeoning market of “period panties” and reusable pads. Whether used as a backup method or as a primary method of menstrual management, these pads are more convenient, less irritating to sensitive skin, less bulky and more environmentally friendly than traditional pads. Popular brands include Thinx, Knix and Salt.
The more we talk openly about periods and the products available, the easier we make it to address period stigma and address menstrual health in our society.
The Jacksonville Chamber’s Professional Women’s Council recently held a period product donation drive among its members, amassing a sizable amount of tampons and pads, which were collected during its April 21st bi-monthly meeting. Patti Hughes, Renewing Dignity founding board member, spoke to the council about the organization’s mission and brought the issue of period poverty to the forefront. She encouraged women to supply menstrual products at their workplaces and to reach out to their representatives regarding current Florida legislation that would supply period products in K-12 schools.
Dawn Stewart, PWC hospitality co-chair, said she has teenage daughters and loves the work being done by Renewing Dignity. “I can’t imagine them trying to get through their school day without the proper products.” Elizabeth Bagan, PWC member, works in health care and said the donation drive was one way she could give back. “Everyone deserves to feel taken care of,” she said.
Following the meeting, the collected period products were immediately distributed to the PACE Center for Girls, Inc. and the Women’s Center of Jacksonville. “Many girls miss school during their cycle because they don’t have the financial resources,” said Kimberly Reed, PACE executive director. “These products will allow them to focus on their education and resources to be successful.”
Locally and across the country, the menstrual equity movement is being heard and positive changes are happening! Jan Healy, Renewing Dignity president and founder, wrote an op-ed piece about the “Learning with Dignity” bills, Senate Bill 242 and House Bill 75, which would require sanitary period supplies to be provided in all-female restrooms in Florida’s K-12 public schools. The op-ed was published in The Florida Times-Union, The Gainesville Sun and the Orlando Sentinel.
Across the country, Delaware, Oregon and Washington have all had recent wins. Delaware House Bill 20, requiring all public as well as charter middle and high schools to provide free menstrual products in their restrooms, has officially passed and was signed by Gov. John Carney! Oregon HB 3294 unanimously passed the House Education Committee, while House Bill 1273 passed the Washington legislature.
In recognition of Period Poverty Awareness Week, Renewing Dignity will be tabling at the Riverside Arts Market 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 22, to hand out information and period products. Volunteers are still needed to help man the booth. If interested, contact Joanna Norris, communications consultant, at joanna@renewingdignity.org. We’ll also be holding a social media contest, Why Do You #LoveRenewingDignity?, during this week. Five lucky winners will receive prizes, such as a Renewing Dignity T-shirt, Period Pouches or fun Natural Life products! Be on the lookout for more information and contest rules on our Twitter page @RenewingDignity.
Be sure to check out our new website look! A HUGE THANK YOU to Renewing Dignity volunteer and professional photographer Ariana Jones for taking the beautiful photographs and for our volunteer models!!