By Ashley Eubanks, The Beauty Initiative
Full disclosure: I love a party. My family and friends are all party people who will show up anywhere, anytime if you promise them fun, fellowship and food – that magical trio that brings people together. Like most period supply programs, the Beauty Initiative needs to hold volunteer events to create the packages of products that we distribute. But why just have a work session when you can have a party? And why just have a party when you can have a party with a purpose? Anyone who comes to a packing party at the Beauty Initiative will learn about period poverty, understand how they can play a part in addressing it, and (if we’ve done our job right) have so much fun that they want to come back.
These are my tips for a party that will get the job done, while also building a community that’s ready to support you in your advocacy and fundraising efforts. We have closed parties for some groups, like our corporate partners, and we have community parties where anyone can come, though folks must make a reservation as we do fill up. These tips are useful in both kinds of parties.
- Don’t do it alone. Our packing parties have a set up team; an event team that greets volunteers and helps them understand their tasks; and a clean up team. We leverage resources from individuals and businesses in the community. Through our strong partnership with Publix and various restaurants, snacks are donated. We love our local radio station and are grateful that they often send a DJ to keep the party tuneful. Our partnerships with libraries and churches open up free event space to us. Our only major expense for these parties is our branded bags.
- Make it fun. Giving doesn’t have to be grim. Dance contests, shout outs on social … if you’d do it at a wedding, you can probably do it at a packing party.
- Help volunteers connect. Every supply bag we send out comes with a handwritten Note of Hope from the volunteer who packed it. This makes the packing event more meaningful for volunteers and helps the recipient to see that they are valued and loved.
- Make it a learning event. Parties always include a brief bit of education about period poverty. We also invite partner agencies to come talk about their work – and to leave with bags packed at that very party. It’s a great way to help your volunteers see their connection to the work.
- Share the good news. After every party, we send recipients a note letting them know how many bags we packed and what organizations are being helped.
- Ask what you can do better. After every party, we ask volunteers what could have been better. They are shy about telling us, but we press them, because we want every packing party to be as terrific as it can be.
The Beauty Initiative began after I saw an unhoused woman who had bled through her pants. I knew I had to do something, and I happened to have a birthday coming up. I invited my family and friends to bring pads and tampons in lieu of gifts and hosted a lit party in a function room at my library. The library staff came in to tell us we were making too much noise. I am proud to report, they ended up joining us.
Many, many good things have come from Beauty Initiative parties. Churches have been inspired to run fundraisers for us. I have been invited to speaking engagements. People have started calling their own contacts and urging them to join in supporting us. I am convinced that once most people learn about period poverty they will want to help. So why not start by sending them an invitation?
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