While many charitable organizations are able to provide food, books and clothing, there was still a need in the provision of feminine hygiene products and undergarments for women.  The I Support The Girls (ISTG) organization works to bridge this gap.  The mission of this organization is to collect and distribute menstrual hygiene products and bras for women experiencing poverty or distress so they can stand with dignity. A woman should not have to choose between feeding herself and her personal health. 

Bhavi, Diya and Shreya Shah volunteer to serve as the Orange County and Riverside Affiliate Director and Junior  Affiliate Directors for this organization.  I Support the Girls helps procure feminine hygiene products and bras for women and girls in need via individual donations, group collection drives, and business collaborations. Leveraging social media, we reach out to our community and receives an outpouring of donations from women throughout Southern California. In the last two years, ISTG OCR has worked with Synchrony Financial, Soma Intimates in South Coast Plaza, Temple Bat Yahm in Newport Beach, Daughters of the American Revolution as well as private citizens that mail donations to her PO box and two drop off locations in Orange County.  We have had the privilege to work with and provide feminine hygiene products to many charitable organizations in Southern California including Share A Meal homeless outreach in Los Angeles; WISE Place women’s shelter;  The Mental Health Association of Orange County; Orangewood Foundation; Girls Inc; Her Place women’s shelter and San Ysidro Health Community Clinics in San Diego to name a few.  In the last two years, I Support the Girls Orange County and Riverside, has collected and distributed over 80,000 feminine hygiene products and over 1000 bras for women and girls in need in our community.

At our March 26th meeting, Riverside County NOW will be collecting new feminine hygiene products (pads, tampons, and pantiliners) and gently used bras for women in need. Please bring as many of these items as you are able to support women and girls in poverty and distress.

Published by Riverside County NOW

NOW chapters focus on six priority issues including reproductive rights, ending sex discrimination/constitutional equality, promoting diversity and ending racism, economic justice, stopping violence against women, and LGBTQIA rights. Our chapter welcomes new members to help fight for women’s rights on the local and national level.