Executive Director Brittany Averette speaks with WTVR reporter Elizabeth Holmes about period poverty, our mission in Richmond and Uganda, inflation and the huge demand for period products.
Sylvia’s Sister on CBS6
News & Events
Period Supply Drive
Did you know that 84% of students have missed a class or know someone who missed a class due to a lack of period products?
Demand for period products has skyrocketed and they are more expensive than EVER. We need your help to ensure that when students go back to school in the fall, they can focus on their studies without the added stress of experiencing period poverty.
On August 12th from 10 AM to noon, we’re hosting a drive-thru period product drive at the following locations:
- Starbucks – 704 England St, Ashland
- YMCA – 120 N Madison St, Petersburg
- RVA Antiques – 6102 Lakeside Ave, Henrico
- Diversity Thrift – 1407 Sherwood Ave, Richmond
Can’t make it August 12?
- Petersburg YMCA at 120 N Madison St, Petersburg will be collecting period products in a box in their lobby now until August 12th!
- Manchester YMCA at 7540 Hull Street Rd, North Chesterfield will be collecting period products in a box in their lobby from August 14th to September 1st!
Items needed:
- Pads (all varieties)
- Individually-wrapped liners
- Tampons with applicators
- Unused leggings and underwear (both youth and adult sizes)
You can find all of these products on our Amazon wishlist!
Join us! Trivia Night Fundraiser to Fight Period Poverty
Join us on Wednesday, May 24th at Hardywood in Scott’s Addition (2410 Ownby Lane) to celebrate Period Poverty Awareness Week with a trivia night and raffle fundraiser! Put your knowledge of female-focused pop culture to the test while raising money for a good cause. Doors open at 5:30 and trivia kicks off at 6:30 pm.
Tickets to play cost $25 per person, with all proceeds supporting menstruators affected by period poverty, or you can attend and not play trivia at no charge. We look forward to seeing you there!
2022 Impact Report
2022 was an exciting year for Sylvia’s Sisters – we underwent our first-ever leadership change and had a banner year helping menstruators in need. We have ambitious goals for 2023 and are hard at work setting them in motion!
You’re invited: Kit Packing & Volunteer Party
Date: Jan. 15, 2023
Time: 2-5 p.m.
Location: UTurn, 2101 Maywill Street, Richmond , VA 23230
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.
This event is made possible by generous support from the Alliance for Period Supplies.
Come see us at Sneed’s Holiday Market
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
Introducing our new leadership team
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.
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.
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
Sylvia’s Cyclones is back!
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.