International Paper rallies for Health and Hope, Pace Center for Girls and United Way

Employee volunteers at International Paper Pensacola gathered to assemble more than 500 feminine care kits to end period poverty. This is the second year International Paper has packed feminine hygiene kits for the community. The kits include feminine products and a personalized note in a discrete bag. The kits were distributed to the Health and Hope Clinic, Pace Center for Girls and United Way of West Florida.

Period poverty is a term used to describe the struggle that many women and girls face because they lack access to adequate menstrual health management supplies and education, and it can have serious consequences. Each year, more than 500 million people worldwide do not have what they need to manage their periods. It’s an issue that leads to a number of problems like school truancy, reproductive issues, health risks and unnecessary shame.

This is just one way International Paper is dedicated to addressing critical needs in the communities where employees live and work by mobilizing its people, products and resources, according to the organization.

Visit InternationalPaper.com for details.

Find ways to help: Baptist Hospital surgery discharge lounge to be named in honor of Margie and Alan Moore

A rundown of charitable happenings: Pensacola & Perdido Bays Estuary Program to award $250K in grants to protect local waters

FPL takes stand against human trafficking to support survivor programs

Florida Power & Light Company recently donated $5,000 to the Escambia County-based The Secret Place Home to support its mission of helping survivors of human trafficking.

This donation was made through the NextEra Energy Foundation, which invests in nonprofit organizations throughout Northwest Florida with programs directly related to the company's business objectives — safety being one of them.

In addition to the donation, FPL wants to support the nonprofit’s efforts to raise awareness about human trafficking. The Secret Place is one of six nonprofit organizations that FPL recently donated a total of $35,000 to for positive impacts on the communities and customers they serve.

Visit thesecretplacehome.org for details.

Pensacola Beach, Perdido Key celebrate first sea turtle hatches of the season

Escambia County recently celebrated the first sea turtle hatches of the season on both Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key. Aided by the full moon, over 160 loggerhead hatchlings safely made their way to Gulf of Mexico.

This was the first of two nests on Perdido Key and the first of 13 on Pensacola Beach. While local numbers are lower than expected, the region overall is having a strong nesting year. A higher number of green and Kemp’s ridley nests are being reported alongside the more common loggerhead.

The full moon contributed to a near perfect hatch, as it guided hatchlings directly to the Gulf without disorientation by artificial light. Hatchlings use the reflected light of the moon and stars off the water to orient themselves toward the Gulf. However, even the dimmest of artificial lights can outshine these natural lights.

Sixty percent of all hatchlings on county beaches will be disoriented by artificial light sources, making them easy targets for predators. Hatchlings that don’t reach the water quickly are also at higher risk of starvation, dehydration and death.

If you see a nest hatching or encounter hatchlings turtles on the beach, stay a respectful distance away and call Escambia County Marine Resources at 850-426-1257.

Donuts for a cause: Donut Strike for Manna, first responders raise 30,750 healthy meals for Manna Food Bank

Learn the impact of implicit bias: Smithsonian community engagement project on implicit bias coming to Pensacola MESS Hall

RAM seeks volunteers for free healthcare clinic in Milton

Remote Area Medical, a major nonprofit provider of pop-up clinics delivering free, quality dental, vision and medical care to those in need, is seeking volunteer medical, dental and vision professionals and general support staff for its clinic on Dec. 2 and 3. The two-day clinic will take place at Milton High School, located at 5445 Stewart St.

RAM is also in need of general support volunteers to help set up on Dec. 1 and take down on Dec. 3. Overnight parking staff to greet patients is also needed, and interpreters can volunteer to aid patients through the process, either in the parking lot or during clinic operations. Individuals do not need to work in the medical field to volunteer as general support.

All RAM services are free, and no ID is required. Free dental, vision and medical services will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis.

Organizations wishing to volunteer time to help provide free healthcare services to the Milton and surrounding communities should visit the RAM website at ramusa.org or call 865-579-1530.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: International Paper rallies for Health and Hope, Pace Center for Girls