Joy sisters’ organization supports Interfaith Food Pantry

Photo Courtesy of TSTI
From left are Quinn and Emma Joy with their mother, Elise Joy, at the Interfaith Food Pantry of the Oranges; the Joys’ organization, Girls Helping Girls. Period has formally partnered with IFPO to provide financial support that will enable the food pantry’s clients to receive feminine hygiene products every month.

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — Sisters Emma and Quinn Joy of South Orange founded Girls Helping Girls. Period, a nonprofit organization that provides feminine hygiene products to girls and adults who cannot afford them, and, as members of Temple Sharey Tefilo-Israel, one of four houses of worship that supports the Interfaith Food Pantry of the Oranges, the teens have expanded their organization’s reach by committing to financially support a program that offers IFPO clients with feminine hygiene products monthly. The program, “Period Initiative,” is administered by the Community FoodBank of New Jersey and ensures that no one goes without these basic necessities.

Emma, 18, and Quinn, 15, founded Girls Helping Girls. Period after discovering students in their school district were skipping school when they had their periods because they could not afford adequate feminine hygiene products. The organization educates people on the need for these products for disadvantaged girls and women, and collects and distributes them through school systems, food pantries and social service agencies.

The sisters have a longstanding commitment to social action and have received support from the TSTI community over the years. They were both nominated by Education Director Mindy Schreff for the 18 Under 18 Award given by the Partnership for Jewish Learning and Life, with which they were honored; and TSTI’s Women’s Connection group has run fundraisers and collects supplies for GHGP. Their mother, Elise Joy, serves as executive director of GHGP and as the Reform synagogue’s vice president of education.

“One in four women has struggled to purchase menstrual products due to lack of income,” Elise Joy said. “We are glad we can extend financial assistance to the Period Initiative to benefit IFPO clients on a regular basis. And we are thankful to our TSTI community for supporting GHGP, helping us make a difference for women and girls right here in Essex County.”

FEATURED, Girls Helping Girls Period, Interfaith Food Pantry of the Oranges, Temple Sharey Tefilo-Israel