Greensburg Salem club collects feminine hygiene products

Jeff Himler, Tribune-Review, Greensburg, Pa.
·2 min read

Feb. 3—The thought of what women leave behind when they escape from an abusive relationship has moved a Greensburg Salem High School freshman to collect feminine hygiene products.

Rubee Stillwagon's concern for those women is what led to "Go With The Flow," a donation drive set for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Sam's Club store at Hempfield Plaza in Hempfield.

Stillwagon is a member of her school's chapter of Family, Career and Community Leaders of America, which will be accepting such products as tampons, menstrual cups, pads and hygiene wipes during the drive.

The goal for the service project is to amass product and cash donations totaling $6,000 — to benefit the local Blackburn Center and residents of that organization's shelter for victims of domestic and sexual violence.

Stillwagon learned that "feminine hygiene products are a large portion of struggling budgets" for organizations like the Blackburn Center, according to FCCLA chapter co-adviser and family and consumer sciences instructor Morgan Ferczak. "Most women, when packing their things to get out of an abusive household or relationship, are not always focused on toiletries and hygiene products."

FCCLA focuses on leadership development and opportunities for students to develop skills for life and career preparation, Ferczak said. Begun a year ago, the Greensburg Salem chapter has grown from 30 members to 57.

During a Spirit Night fundraiser, set for Feb. 11, the chapter will earn a percentage of receipts from food sales at the Chick-fil-A restaurant in Hempfield's Eastgate Plaza. Ferczak said that evening's goal is to raise $3,000, to help reduce costs for seven chapter members who plan to attend a March state leadership conference at Seven Springs Mountain Resort in Somerset County.

Jeff Himler is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Jeff by email at jhimler@triblive.com or via Twitter .