14 | JANUARY 12 • 2023 

OUR COMMUNITY

T

he Well, NEXTGen 
Detroit and the 
Women’s Philanthropy 
Tikkun Olam Volunteers 
(TOV) at Jewish Federation 
of Metropolitan Detroit are 
all coming together for a 
Dignity Grows pack party 
with Brilliant Detroit as the 
distribution partner. 
The partnership is fundrais-
ing to create Dignity Grows 
Totes, which are filled with 
a month’s supply of personal 
hygiene products and essential 
period items.
Dignity Grows is a nonprof-
it organization whose mission 
is to provide individuals in 
need with essential personal 
hygiene products so they can 
attend school and work and 
participate in community life 
without interruption. 
According to the organiza-
tion, nearly 30% of menstru-
ators in the U.S. suffer from 
“period poverty,” lacking the 
financial resources to pur-
chase basic menstrual hygiene 
necessities.
This is viewed as the kick-
off of Dignity Grows’ Detroit 
chapter.
“This is a fantastic project 
and we wanted to start a 
chapter. And we finally made 
it happen,” said Steph Belsky, 
NEXTGen Detroit co-chair 
and rebbetzin of The Well. 
“It’s really exciting 
to see The Well 
and Federation, 
both NEXTGen 
and Women’s 
Philanthropy, all 
coming together 
for this great 

cause that is bigger than any 
of us.” 
Women’s Philanthropy took 
notice of Dignity Grows after 
its five Women’s Philanthropy 
volunteer leaders — who 
serve on the National 
Women’s Philanthropy 
board — came back from a 
national retreat, where the 
organization’s efforts were 
highlighted. 
Women’s Philanthropy 
members discussed how they 
could make it happen in 
Detroit, said Amy Neistein, 
director of 
Women’s 
Philanthropy.
Everyone 
involved has a 
connection to 
Brilliant Detroit. 
“We thought 

they would be fantastic as a 
distribution partner, and we 
are going to be bringing in a 
handful of people to volunteer 
to pack these totes with us,” 
Belsky said. “Then we’re going 
to send them off to Brilliant 
Detroit and their different 
hubs where these supplies are 
needed. 
“To be able to do our small 
part, to get these hygiene 
products into the hands of 
families that need it, it’s very 
exciting.”
The goal is to pack a 
minimum of 180 totes at 
$10 each for a pre-event 
fundraising goal of $1,800.
Those interested can 
choose to donate only or 
donate and join the packing 
party. This event is limited 
to 50 volunteer packers on 

a first-come, first-served 
basis. The event takes place 
Sunday, Jan. 22 from 2-4 p.m. 
in the conference rooms of 
the Federation building on 
Telegraph Road in Bloomfield 
Township. 
“There’s so much interest 
in this project here, and we’re 
really hoping to get at least 
one other packing party out 
of this. So, if you don’t get on 
the list to pack for this first 
project, stay tuned; we will 
definitely be opening up a 
waitlist,” Belsky said. 
The fundraising will be 
ongoing after the Jan. 22 
event. 
“The goal here is to launch 
the project. Even though it’s 
limited to 50 people for the 
packing with a goal of 180 
bags, we hope that funds 
collected will launch the pro-
gram further,” Neistein said. 
“Our community is in such 
a great time of collaboration. 
There’s so much need out 
there and so many people 
want to help.” 
Brilliant Detroit is the chap-
ter’s first distribution partner, 
not an exclusive distribution 
partner. 
“We’ve explored a few in 
the planning, and we know 
there is great need out there 
and other distribution part-
ners who are poised to help 
distribute,” Neistein said. 

To donate and/or sign up to volunteer, 

visit jewishdetroit.org/event/dignity-

grows. 

The Well, NEXTGen Detroit and Women’s Philanthropy 
partner to help low-income women.
Dignity Grows

Steph 
Belsky

Amy 
Neistein

DANNY SCHWARTZ STAFF WRITER

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