December 21, 2020
In the Spirit of Holiday Giving: 10 Women’s Wellness Organizations to Support
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, 2020 has been a lot. Our daily routines have been upended and reshaped in ways we never would have expected. We were all called to make sacrifices for the good of public health. Yet, though it may look very different this year, we can still experience the joy of the holiday season. As we continue to social distance and wear masks, we can still turn our hearts to service and generosity. In the spirit of holiday giving, here are 10 organizations dedicated women’s wellness to support:
Over its 25-year history, Women for Women International has served more than 500,000 women in 8 post-conflict countries. Most notably, the organization offers educational and financial resources to reinforce female agency in personal and communal decisions. Women for Women has also provided over 5,900 hygiene kits in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Though breast cancer is a disease that can impact people of all genders, it is the most common cause of cancer death among women in the United States. According to recent studies, 12.9% of women in the US will develop breast cancer at some point in their lifetimes. Since 1993, Breast Cancer Research Foundation has raised and distributed about $500,000,000 to advance the discovery of more breast cancer treatments and cures.
Unfortunately, there are still racial disparities that exist across the medical system today, including the treatment of women’s health needs. For example, Black women are 3-4 times more likely to die from childbirth complications than their white counterparts. In 1983, Black Women’s Health Imperative became the first non-profit organization dedicated to the health and well-being of Black women and girls, particularly advocating for equity in health policy and championing wellness programs.
Foundation for Women’s Wellness is a non-profit public charity that grants money to small, short-term studies directed towards the advancement of women’s health. The organization seems to be particularly keen on investing in upcoming researchers to encourage a lifelong devotion to women’s health needs.
Helping Women Period provides free menstrual products to people who are homeless or low-income in the Greater Lansing Area in Michigan. The organization also advocates for menstrual equity in policy and actively promotes other menstrual health projects across the globe.
Without access to menstrual health products, some women and girls are expected to miss days of school or work to wait out the free flow of their periods. Days for Girls provides reusable pads and menstrual management education so that women and girls can navigate participating in their otherwise daily routines while on their periods. The organization also has a program for men and boys to instruct them in how to best support their female peers.
Girls on the Run guides girls in 3rd – 8th grade in navigating the high and lows of becoming a young woman, participating in community service projects, and embracing physical activity (i.e. running). In 2019, more than 200,000 girls participated in the programs across the United States and more than 14,000 community projects were completed.
Since 1997, Dress for Success Worldwide has empowered women to achieve financial independence by offering support and appropriate business attire for job interviews. The non-profit has expanded its operations to 150 affiliates in 25 countries.
The National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center is a Native-led non-profit that is determined to end gender-based violence against Native women and children. The organization advocates for the issue on a national stage in multiple tribal communities, seeking accountability and justice on and off tribal lands.
The Homeless Period Project distributes “Period Packs” of tampons, pads, and wipes to homeless shelters and schools across the country. Since 2015 to date, 7,749,231 menstrual products have been donated.
We at LILAS hope that you all continue to safely enjoy the holidays wherever you are in the world. We’re also eagerly looking forward to the new year! 2021, here we come!