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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