Monroe duo craft menstrual pads for girls in third-world countries

Cloth diaper advocate Bianca Tarleton is increasing her environmental advocacy globally with her friend Kelsey Taylor, the Monroe women founding the Pad Project, a grassroots effort to provide cloth menstrual pads to girls in developing countries. -á -á

Tarleton is the author of a local blog called the Pierogie Mama, and is an ardent believer in the benefits of cloth diapering. She teaches classes at the Grow With Me boutique in Monroe, and acts as a resource about cloth diaper benefits for owner Janae Hoskin.

She and Taylor were inspired to start sewing cloth menstrual pads, after the two realized in conversation that they were both passionate about the topic of menstrual sanitation for girls in third-world countries.-á

The lack of being able to discreetly have their period isolates the girls isolated from their peers and family while they wait for their monthly periods to end, Tarleton said. In Nepal, girls are banished to outdoor sheds during their monthly cycles.

"It comes as no surprise why there are low numbers of educated women in parts of the world, when they are having to be secluded during their monthly cycle,GÇ¥ Tarleton said.

Menstrual sanitation in developing countries is an emerging topic that is gaining worldwide attention. Tarleton and Taylor teamed up with their Mother of Preschoolers (MOPS) group at Cascade Church in Monroe, which was preparing for its annual donation of Operation Christmas Child boxes.

All across the Sky Valley region, churches participate in Samaritan's Purse International Relief's Operation Christmas Child, where shoeboxes are filled with toys, school supplies, hygiene items and picture books and sent to developing countries around the world.

National Collection Week takes place Nov. 16-23, with drop-off locations across the United States. Boxes are organized based on the recipients' sex and age. Donors have three age groups to choose from; 2 GÇô 4, 5 GÇô 9 and 10 GÇô 14.

Tarleton and Taylor decided on boxes for girls 10 GÇô 14, and went to work sewing cloth menstrual pads in preparation for packing day, which took place Nov. 6. They had enough pads to supply eight boxes with 10-11 pads per girl, expecting the supply would last for a couple days.

"The fervent hope was to give her the ability to have discretion and dignity,GÇ¥ Tarleton said. "We were extremely surprised and shocked when we learned that day, that as a result of hearing about the Pad Project, the women of Cascade MOPS were inspired to increase their donations.GÇ¥

As a result, eight more 10-14-year-old boxes were added. Currently, Tarleton, Taylor and other volunteers are attempting to sew enough menstrual pads to fill the eight additional boxes. They plan to continue making the pads after Operation Christmas Child, and are seeking partnerships with other humanitarian organizations.

Tarleton and Taylor designed the pads, wanting them to be quick and easy to hand wash and air dry. The pads also needed to be constructed out of material that's breathable and comfortable, and didn't retain much heat.

"Our pads are mostly made entirely of flannel material,GÇ¥ Tarleton said. "The "core' absorbent layer is five layers of flannel, with an upper and bottom layer that is a pretty fabric.GÇ¥

The pads are 9 inches long, have additional "booster pads,GÇ¥ which are made out of four core layers and sit on top of the primary pad. That way, girls can simply remove the booster pad when it becomes soiled, and still have the regular pad to protect them during heavy periods.

Additionally, Tarleton's group crafted small clutches out of polyurethane material, so girls can discreetly carry their used pads during the day.-á

Most of all, cloth menstrual pads are sustainable, Tarleton said; they are reusable and have a lifespan of many years.

Tarleton is excited to see where the Pad Project ends up, and hopes her group can partner with a local mission or nonprofit to expand the concept. The Pad Project is not an official nonprofit organization, and is entirely self-funded. Tarleton and Taylor's accomplishments so far have been made possible through donations of fabric and other materials.

"We are continually welcoming donations of preferably flannel fabric and other resources to continue the project. We have even been asked to speak to small groups to encourage awareness and inspire participation in our project,GÇ¥ Tarleton said.

For more information on the Pad Project, visit Tarleton's blog at http://thepierogiemama.blogspot.com/. To participate in the Pad Project, email her at bianca.tarleton@gmail.com.