Pads for Peace

'Tis the season of giving. Giving to family and friends of course, but also of giving to those in need. With so many worthwhile charities out there, I wanted to do my research and find something I felt good about donating to this holiday season.

One of my favorite sites is GreaterGood.com, where you can click daily for various causes such as breast cancer, childhood literacy, rain forest preservation and more. The site sponsors then donate to partner organizations, depending on how many clicks they get. A free way to give back; how cool is that?

The site also has a store where you can purchase a a Gift That Gives More™. One such gift is a program called Pads for Peace:

"Pads for Peace gives girls access to reusable sanitary pads. The pads are reusable, made of attractive, soft fleece and flannel, and are both made and distributed in Kenya. The girls who receive the pads are also in reproductive education and empowerment classes. Another great benefit of the program is that the women making the pads earn income by manufacturing and selling these pads to women in the community."

A one-time donation pays for a kit of cloth pads, liners and underwear that can last up to 5 years, plus detergent and other items to wash them.

Read more about Pads for Peace here, and also be sure to check out the other cool gifts that are available in the store.

Cleaning Alternatives for Reusable Pads

The ladies at the Be Prepared Blog sent us a link to their new post discussing alternate cleaning products for reusable pads. They talk about H20 at Home's Eco-Clean Laundry Ball as well as a couple of organic washes. I personally never thought about using a different soap for my pads; usually I throw them in with my regular laundry loads. Yet they bring up a good point of the chemicals in laundry detergent sticking to your pads after you wash them (and who wants that near your ladyparts?). While we're on the subject, I have to give a plug for the Forever New wash. It's branded primarily for washing lingerie but I've washed some of my homemade pads in it as well. Are there any other products or methods you use to clean your reusable pads?

Real quick round up

photo from mermaidhostel.com

• Heavy Flow is a new menstruation zine I have not read [yet], but it looks cool.
• There's some pretty solid advice about how to Macguyver yourself a maxi pad in an emergency over at Jezebel. Favorite part?: "If you really want to give your clothes eternal life, you're going to have to mummify your panties."
• There is talk of remaking Carrie.
• Lately I am in love with The Frenemy. Here she hilariously expands on what Cosmo has taught her about her vagina.
• lovelifeproject sings the praises of reusable maxi pads.

8 Myths About Washable Menstrual Pads Dispelled

I found a link to this article on Twitter by Emira Mears about the reasons why some women aren't willing to try reuseable menstrual pads. I think it brings up a lot of good points.

Eight Myths About Washable Menstrual Pads Dispelled

the second 'R' (re-use!)

I did a quick search and didn't see any major posts on reusable pads, so I thought I'd include a few links to sewing tutorials and/or places to purchase them online.

I first learned about the concept of reusable menstrual pads from the book Cunt by Inga Muscio (see here for a post by Jamie with an awesome quote), which I read in high school. It blew my budding little feminist mind: Not needing to spend money on pads all the time? Reusing my old flannel pajama pants or New Kids on The Block pillow cases for something useful? Sold! I made my first ones by hand without a pattern in my dorm room freshman year of college... they weren't pretty, but they worked.

Since then, I have used patterns from the internet and bought ones from small shops on etsy. This website has a huge list of patterns that you can use for making your own. Some have wings, some have instructions for snap or velcro closures, and others are just regular ol' rectangles of various thickness. These might be my favorites, just because they look incredibly comfy and well-made. I love being able to choose what materials and how many layers to use -- super thick and terry-cloth for night time, light cotton/jersey knit for easier days, etc.

If you're not crafty-inclined or simply don't have any time to spare, here are a few etsy shops that have listings for reusable pads:
Vulva Love Lovely
Mother Moon Pads
effie the pixie
... and of course, there's always lunapads and the like.

Whether or not you having a sewing machine, I would whole-heartedly (whole-vaginally?) recommend trying some out if you haven't before. Your vulva will thank you and sunshine will spill from your loins. Or something.