Yesterday, I kicked off a short campaign to support the Pantry’s Women’s Care program and section. There weren’t many people, only on that very outdoor holiday, and Sarah said:
“We have a great start with just a little more to go.” So I put in the Women’s Care requests from yesterday on today as well, in the hope we can do “just a little more” to get women what they need and have enough left over for some food. The reasons women are in trouble are repeated.
Also today, all of th photos are of Pantry volunteers coming off the Pantry wagon to meet with the town. The response was great. Pictures above. These are the volunteers who sat on the Pantry truck and tossed candy to the kids outside.
_________
Sarah’s Requests On A Memory Day Holiday:
V8 Splash Tropical Blend, $2.38.
Amazon Grocery, Cranberry Juice, $2.40.
Mama Bear Gentle Diapers, Size 5, 33 Count, $8.64.
_________
The items below are what Sarah is requesting we help with, if we can. No mothers ought to give up food to care for their children or to meet their own needs. Women’s care needs just a little more help.
__________
Tampax Pear Tampons, 47 Count, $11.44.
Amazon Basics Daily Pantiliners, Feminine Pads Long Length, 120 Count (3 Packs of 40), $7.74.
Maxi Pads For Periods, (1 Pack), $4.99.
______
Below, I did some research yesterday. Here are the reasons women are in great need now:
The Reasons for Single-Mother Households. Food insecurity is nearly three times higher for single-mother households (around 34 percent) than in the general population.”Mothe’ ‘ss Sacrific””: Mothers often forgo their own means and personal needs to ensure their children have what they need.
Elderly Women: Women live longer than men and often live on fixed incomes (Social Security), which drives them to food pantries.
The Wage Gap: Lower average earnings leave many women with fewer financial cushions and options. Items like Tampax, Pantry Liners, and dental items are often too much for them to budget for. This is dramatically worse during periods like this one, we try once more to get the Pantry women what they need.
________
I’m not using names because I don’t have them all, and it’s unfair to identify some and not others. I will catch up with all of them over time.
Their faces tell their stories.
_____
__________
You can help the Cambridge Food Pantry at any time, especially these days, by browsing the Amazon Cambridge Pantry Food Wish List, which is continuously updated. Everything on the list is urgently needed. You can access the Food List anytime by clicking any link here or by the green button at the bottom of every blog post.
Some people adopt particular items they see by regularly buying them. Your help makes an enormous difference; you are very much appreciated.
______
Thanks to the People of Joy – the Army of Good, and the Cambridge Pantry Volunteers, warriors of good.
_____
________
____________
Photos by Sarah Harrington