The American Medical Woman’s Association is hosting its first Women’s Hygiene Supply Drive. Lamar’s AMWA student organization had its first meeting of the semester and has already collected hygiene products.
The organization focuses on women in health care, whether that be nursing, pre-med or pre-vet. AMWA’s mission is to combine the same goals to volunteer, to do community service and to network, as well instill empathy and responsibility as future health care workers, Mozan Hassan, president and founder of LU’s AMWA, said.
“We want to take this community service project not just in Lamar, but also want to help the community.” she said. “We called a few homeless shelters, and they really need women’s hygiene products. So, we decided to just do a drive.”
The goal is to provide help to the homeless shelters and donate products across campus. As of now, the group intends to keep a basket in the chemistry lab for three weeks and are in need of more deodorant and other feminine hygiene products. Hassan said.
Alondra Gomez, volunteer coordinator, said getting the necessary products to the women who need them is important.
“(I try) to put myself in their position,” Gomez said. “If I was a homeless woman and I couldn’t obtain products like that in a healthy way — (if) I smell I’m not going to be confident. That’s why I think its important, not only to me but to those people, too. The way we present ourselves is so important. And if you’re self-conscious about that, where’s your focus at?”
It is difficult for some of the women living in shelters. Since they don’t always have access to hygiene products, getting a job can be difficult since first impressions are everything, Gomez said.
Making the products accessible helps women who need those products to be able to help with their self-esteem Anya Arif, vice president of outreaching advocacy, said.
“They shouldn’t feel like, ‘Oh, I can’t afford this, so I shouldn’t even pursue anything.” Arif said.
AMWA also helps students on campus, since feminine hygiene products are expensive for college students, and students aren’t always available to drop everything and go to the store, Arif said.
“I’ve noticed various bathrooms on campus, whenever there are free menstrual products, they’re gone immediately,” she said. “It’s just a lot of money to have to buy products over and over again, so its great to be able to provide those to those who need them.”
Hassan said making feminine products easily available is important, as students may not always have the ability to access what they need.
“Some of us can’t because of their financial background , or maybe you forgot to put (a pad) in your backpack or something, she said. “But if it’s in the bathroom, it can be very helpful and accessible, so then they won’t have to stress about it.”
Hassan said she hopes to organize more drives in the future, so that homeless people, as well as students at Lamar don’t go without essential products.
“I’m hoping this will go one for so many years after we all graduate,” she said. “I’m hoping new officers come in and do the exact same drive, and it keeps on going because it’s going to help the community on and on.
“And maybe people outside Lamar are going to start knowing this organization and then people outside will try to donate.”
Donations may be dropped off in the Chemistry Lab.