From the Interns: Setting Up Clarendon's Personal Care Pantry

Hello, everyone! 

My name is Faiza and I am currently a CARE intern at the Clarendon Library, where I’ve been helping establish the Personal Care Pantry! I created a brand-new donation bin, collected and sorted incoming donations, assembled personal care packs, restocked and organized our pantry shelves, and even designed and printed a custom logo specific to our Clarendon location! 

In these weeks, what’s made this experience truly meaningful were the conversations with curious adults and kids, where both ends of the conversation have been dedicated to eradicating the stigma surrounding menstruation. Teaching kids that this topic isn’t one to shy away from, but to embrace, and the kids of the Clarendon library have created an environment dedicated to learning, no matter the topic. These kids directly benefited from the resources given. With the help of the community, we’ve helped those in need, educated those who didn’t know, and most importantly, we shed light on an uncomfortable topic to reduce the negativity surrounding it. 

In the coming weeks, I hope to host events dedicated to educating anyone and allowing them to express their concerns, and giving them the resources needed to thrive. I’ll be presenting my final project to the children of the library while providing them with an activity to stay engaged, and hopefully, it all goes well, and our message gets spread. I truly believe that creating access to products is just one piece of the puzzle. Changing mindsets and encouraging open, honest dialogue is just as important. I’m really looking forward to the coming weeks, where I will host craft projects, including decorating your own personal care pouches. 

This internship has taught me how small actions like a conversation or a donated item can make a big difference. I’ve grown more confident in public speaking, organizing projects, and advocating for issues I care about deeply. While this experience has strengthened my passion for community-based social justice, I’m especially proud of the work Grace and I, and everyone else in this library, have done so far, and I’m excited to see the impact grow.