Days for Girls locally 2025
 

At our November 24, 2025  Rotary Meeting, our Speaker was Charlie Teel on “Days for Girls Locally”

 

We heard previously about the Days for Girls kits provided in other countries that allow girls to attend school during menstruation. Tonight, we heard about the program’s local impact.

Charlie Teel is the director of the Stanwood-Camano Island Days for Girls and told us she participated in a 5^th grade distribution of the washable menstruation kits today. There is a huge need for local kids since 20-25% can’t afford the paper products sold in stores. So, the solution is the kits sewn by Days for Girls which are washable, reusable, and environmentally friendly. These products are chemical-free, require little water for washing, are fast drying, sustainable, high-quality shields and pads that last month after month. Many of us have probably not realized that girls in our own community may be missing school monthly because the family can’t afford feminine hygiene products. Grants have allowed the $15 kits to be given out free which creates equality for all girls in their local area.  This changes the lives of people immediately.

Charlie explained the process they went through to find the right school district person to get the Days for Girls kits distributed during education about growth and development. National Honor Society members distributed the kits at the food bank which brought the idea to their parents and then to people in the Stanwood-Camano School District. The

Executive Director of Student Support Services reviewed the curriculum that had been taught for 50 years. She brought the curriculum up to date and included distribution of the kits to 5^th grade girls. Middle school and high school students will be added next year.

 

In a girl’s lifetime, paper menstruation products create 400 pounds of waste at a cost of $6,000.

 

Days for Girls volunteers can be sewers or non-sewers.

 

Menstrual cups which are not presented to 5^th grade students are made from medical-grade silicone and can last 5 years.