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Young women in Ghana, Africa, often miss a week of school every month because they lack a simple but critical resource, sanitary pads.
Members of Lost River Electric Cooperative in Moore, Idaho, and Ruralite magazine readers are working to change this reality. The Bird family and their Idaho-based nonprofit, the Ghana Make a Change Foundation, is leading a volunteer effort to sew and send washable, reusable feminine pads for teens.
“Without these pads, the girls stay home for a week from school every month,” co-op member Ginger Bird says. “This makes them get behind with schoolwork, become frustrated and eventually just quit school. Our goal is to help make things easier for the girls so they can stay in school.”
Donations of flannel and cotton came from local residents and Ruralite magazine readers in Alaska, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon and Washington.
Bird talked about the generosity and planning that made the event possible. Neighbors and church members donated material. A friend, Beverly Beach, suggested submitting a request for supplies on the Reader Exchange page in Ruralite.
“I wondered if anyone would even read such a tiny paragraph of a few sentences asking for flannel, waterproof fabric and snaps,” Bird says.
“We had such a great response,” Bird says. “Along with snaps, someone even sent a machine to attach them to the fabric. Others sent underwear, which is needed too. Some donated money. The tremendous generosity of strangers along with people in the valley was amazing and humbling. We’re so grateful.”
“The generosity and caring by Ruralite readers for others is heartwarming, but also something that has become a common theme with our readers,” Pioneer Editorial Director and Ruralite Editor Mike Teegarden says. “They always seem to rise up and lend a hand to those in need. Even when that need is in Africa. It is a privilege to work with such a warm and caring community.”
Ghana Make a Change Foundation will deliver the hygiene kits this summer. In 2023, Ginger and her daughters made 120 kits. Her 2024 goal is 1,000 kits, a possibility due to widespread community support and the help of Ruralite readers.
Read the full story in Lost River Electric Cooperative’s March issue of Ruralite magazine.
Ruralite’s Reader Exchange
Ruralite’s readers ask and receive many types of support from readers across the West. Recent requests include birthday cards, vintage ornaments, songbooks, broken jewelry, buttons and seeds.
Ruralite’s editorial team sometimes posts pictures and notes from thankful readers. An artist’s need brought 20,000 corks to her door in 2022. A request for pillowcases to turn into dresses sparked a community outpouring of support. Several readers received more than 800 cards each to mark milestones, showing the simple impact of asking fellow readers to celebrate with them.
Ruralite’s editorial team receives between 20 and 100 requests for the monthly Reader Exchange, with many readers asking for help celebrating milestones. Only participating electric utility members are eligible for the free listing. To learn more about how to submit requests, check your issue of Ruralite.
About Pioneer Utility Resources
Pioneer is a not-for-profit communications and marketing cooperative based in Hillsboro, Oregon. Formed in 1956, it provides agency-style communications services to consumer-owned utilities and affiliated organizations in 46 states. Marquee products and services include 11 consumer magazine brands reaching more than 1.3 million U.S. utility households. The cooperative also provides broadband marketing, social media engagement, responsive website design and hosting, podcast production and custom communications services. Pioneer is built to share member stories.
Pioneer also owns Efficiency Services Group, which specializes in energy-efficiency program support and installation services primarily in the West, and NewsData, which publishes industry-leading, independent newsletters covering the utility sector in California and the Pacific Northwest. Pioneer is also the largest shareholder in General Pacific, a Fairview, Oregon-based electric supply company. Learn more at pioneer.coop.