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Sylvia's Sisters

End Period Poverty

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brittany

You’re invited: Kit Packing & Volunteer Party

January 5, 2023 Leave a Comment

Date: Jan. 15, 2023
Time: 2-5 p.m.
Location: UTurn, 2101 Maywill Street, Richmond , VA 23230

PLEASE RSVP HERE

Please join Sylvia’s Sisters in celebrating the MLK National Day of Service at our “Snack & Pack” kit-packing party! The National Day of Service is an opportunity for communities to come together to honor King’s dream of making our world a more equitable place.

Sylvia’s Sisters fights period poverty—the inability to afford or access menstrual products—by providing period product kits to schools and organizations in Central Virginia. These kits contain enough pads, tampons and liners to last one menstruator one month. We’ll have several stations set up at which volunteers can pack the kits with products from larger boxes. All supplies will be provided. Nothing needed; just bring yourself!

All are welcome—seasoned volunteers or those who have never heard of our organization. Please bring friends! This is a casual, drop-in event.

We welcome children. We will have activities for children, and they are invited to help pack kits! Our staff are happy to sign off on volunteer hours for students.

Snacks and drinks provided.

Existing partners and school reps are welcome to pick up supplies and/or kits for their organizations at this event. Please email information@sylviassisters.org with type and quantity requested.

By attending, you give Sylvia’s Sisters permission to use photos/videos of you (and any minors in your care) taken during this event in marketing materials.

Please RSVP here.

This event is made possible by generous support from the Alliance for Period Supplies.

Filed Under: Events

Come see us at Sneed’s Holiday Market

December 7, 2022 Leave a Comment

Sylvia’s Sisters will be spreading awareness about period poverty, raffling a beautiful Sneed’s-made wreath and enjoying holiday cheer this weekend at the Sneed’s Outdoor Holiday Market. Many thanks to Sneed’s Nursery for their support of Sylvia’s Sisters and for giving a voice to menstruators in need.

  • When: Dec. 11, 2022, 12-5pm
  • Where: 8756 West Huguenot Road, Richmond, VA 23235

Filed Under: Events

Introducing our new leadership team

July 27, 2022 Leave a Comment

Hello everyone,

My name is Brittany Averette, and I am excited to introduce myself as the new executive director of Sylvia’s Sisters. I have worked in non-profit communications for many years and feel honored to serve this mission. I am also a web designer, business owner, and mother of two, with a passion for equity issues in women’s health. 

In June, our founder and president, Jennifer Taylor, retired. Jennifer is the visionary behind Sylvia’s Sisters and the heart and soul of our organization. Retiring with her are Laura Davidson, vice president, JoAnne Kaperick, treasurer, and volunteer Heidi Field-Alvarez. 

These women are the driving force behind Sylvia’s Sisters’ success. Their many achievements include:

  • Establishing Sylvia’s Sisters as a 501(c)(3)
  • Distributing pads, panty liners, and tampons to menstruators in Central Virginia since 2016 (and in the past three years alone, we have supplied more than 640,000 period products to our community!)
  • Purchasing, producing, and distributing reusable pads (and menstrual health education) to dozens of rural Ugandan schools
  • Developing a relationship with Afripads to make our Ugandan mission more sustainable
  • Successfully lobbying Virginia legislators to require free period products in school 
  • Providing 4 Ugandan schools with water catchments so they have access to clean water (an essential component of menstrual health)
  • Establishing a relationship with more than 30 partners in Central Virginia, including agencies through whom Sylvia’s Sisters provided products to students in more than 50 Virginia public elementary, middle, and high schools 
  • Joining the Alliance for Period Supplies, a national organization that supports and provides resources for local period poverty groups
  • All of the fundraising and volunteer coordination to make the above possible! 

Fortunately, Jennifer will remain a part of Sylvia’s Sisters as a Board member and a trusted advisor. I have learned a lot from her, and I am personally grateful to call her a friend. Laura, JoAnne and Heidi remain steadfast volunteers and supporters–and we could not do this work without them.

President Jennifer Taylor distributes pads to a classroom in Uganda. Our namesake, Sylvia, stands behind her, discussing the basics of proper menstrual hygiene. 

Jennifer, Laura, JoAnne and Heidi: Thank you for your many years of invaluable service! 

I am excited to introduce two other brand-new members of our leadership team! Heather Lennon is our new director of operations. She has worked in non-profit administration for many years with various organizations across the country. Katie Irvine Wadey is our new director of finance. She is an analyst with the Federal Reserve of Richmond.

Brittany Averette
Heather Lennon
Katie Irvine Wadey

Meet our full staff here. We remain an all-volunteer organization. 

Heather, Katie and I are honored to join the fight to end period poverty.

With gratitude,

Brittany

Filed Under: About Sylvia's Sisters

Sylvia’s Cyclones is back!

May 4, 2022 Leave a Comment

Celebrate Period Poverty Awareness Week (May 22-28, 2022) by getting active for girls in need.

Get Involved: Sylvias Cyclones 2022

Every step, every mile, every lap will keep girls in school and women at work with dignity.

Set a goal and be a fundraiser! Or use the power of your dollars to sponsor one. Learn more.

Filed Under: Events, Fundraising

Sylvia’s Sisters Needs Volunteers & Board Members! Can you help?

March 9, 2022 Leave a Comment

Our Winter 2022 e-newsletter was published and it’s chock-full of great information. (Not subscribed? Keep up with us by signing up here (right column).

Most notably, we need volunteers! Sign up if you’re interested in volunteering with us. We especially need boots-on-the-ground volunteers to assemble period kits and deliver them to communities in need. There are two board positions opening soon. More information is forthcoming.

Also in this e-newsletter: information about our new branding, a recap of fun events, and product distribution impact numbers. We’re making a difference for menstruators in Central Virginia!

Filed Under: Enewsletter, Product Distribution, Volunteer

Questions about periods?

October 14, 2021 Leave a Comment

Need help talking openly with girls about menstruation and menstrual hygiene? Join Jennifer Taylor, president of Sylvia’s Sisters; Jennifer Gaines, program director of Alliance for Period Supplies; and Dr. Jellisa Timmons, family practitioner, St. Francis Medical Centers. They’ll provide expert guidance and answer your questions, so you can answer theirs!

Hosted by Pamunkey Regional Library. Registration is required. This program is hosted virtually through Zoom and the meeting link will be sent to the email registered 1 day before the event occurs. If you don’t receive your reminder email on Wednesday, November 3, please contact the library.

Register online.

Filed Under: Events

Sylvia’s Cyclones: Getting Active to Raise Money and Awareness

September 21, 2021 Leave a Comment

Heidi Alvarez

In order to bring awareness to our cause we decided to get moving! We started our very first biking challenge. As newbies to the non-profit “challenge” event we were needlessly nervous about its success. This event was so fun and energetic. Everyone upped their game doing many more miles and getting many more donations than expected! For next year, we may be expanding the event to include running or walking or any kind of activity you like. This event is all about personal challenges. You set your goal and make it happen!

We hope you will join us when we do it again in April 2022.

Filed Under: Events, Fundraising

Students Form PERIOD Chapter

June 29, 2021 Leave a Comment

In 2020, Maggie Walker students partnered with Sylvia’s Sisters to help get legislation passed at the state level requiring public schools to provide free period products in restrooms. Those students have now established a chapter of PERIOD, a national organization committed to fighting period poverty and stigma through service, education, and advocacy.

Read more about their efforts.

Filed Under: Legislation, Media Coverage, Partnerships

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About Us

Sylvia’s Sisters aims to end period poverty by providing quality period products to menstruators, both locally and abroad, so they can thrive at home, school, and work.

Read more about us

Recent Posts

  • You’re invited: Kit Packing & Volunteer Party
  • Come see us at Sneed’s Holiday Market
  • Introducing our new leadership team

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Copyright © 2023 Sylvia's Sisters, a 501 (c)(3) public charity registered with the US Internal Revenue Service.