From left are Barry R. Devone III, community engagement officer for Orange Public Schools; interim Superintendent Ronald C. Lee; JLOSH member Linda Floyd; JLOSH Community Council Chairwoman Meridith Goyanes; and Orange Public Schools special services supervisor Janet McClouden.
ORANGE, NJ — In collaboration with 28 Days Project, dentist Dr. Justin Fried and donations from Junior League of the Oranges and Short Hills members, JLOSH restocked the nurses’ pantries of the Orange School District with non-medical wellness essentials.
Many children in the JLOSH catchment area attend school lacking adequate clothing and other basic needs. The lack of access to these basic items has a detrimental impact on a child’s ability to learn and thrive at school. The Nurses’ Pantries Program within the Orange Public School District is a vital resource for children in need. The pantries provide basic items and hygiene products to students who may not otherwise have access to them.
“JLOSH always looks forward to partnering with the Orange School District to help ensure students have access to basic items supplied by the nurses’ pantries. As an organization, we are dedicated to closing the gap to many of the access issues affecting low-income school-aged children in our service area,” JLOSH President Kate Farley said. “By providing basic hygiene supplies to the school nurses, students can focus on succeeding in school.”
The Orange Public School District asked JLOSH for assistance in restocking its pantries with feminine care products, deodorant, toothbrushes, and toothpaste. JLOSH exceeded its contribution from previous years — donating 750 feminine pads, 265 sticks of deodorant, 473 toothbrushes and 288 tubes of toothpaste — totaling 1,775 items. A special thank you to 28 Days Project, a 2018 JLOSH Community Grant Recipient, for generously donating 30 boxes, or 750 pads, again this year. JLOSH also thanks Fried of Maplewood Family Dental for donating 100 toothbrushes for the program.
“Women need access to feminine care products every 28 days. Some women simply cannot afford these products and have to sideline activities, school or work for a few days of the month. Our mission through 28 Days Project is to provide women in need with feminine care products for a less stressful and more confident period. Partnering with local nonprofits like JLOSH keeps us connected to the specific needs in our area and provides a trusted distribution channel to regularly get products into the hands of women,” Jamy Barton, co-founder of 28 Days Project, said.
“JLOSH’s immeasurable support has afforded us the ability to provide well-needed personal products for our students,” said Janet McClouden, special services supervisor of the Orange Public School District. “JLOSH has proven to be a vital partner for our schools.”
“Each year JLOSH continues to prove its impact on the community. Again they have exceeded their contributions and provided close to 1,800 individual items for the Orange School District nurses’ pantries program,” said Barry R. Devone III, community engagement officer for the Orange Public School District. “This makes such an impact for our students.”
28 Days was founded on the premise that women need access to affordable feminine products — every 28 days — and that no woman needs to feel financial or emotional burdens by simply being female. 28 Days provides feminine products to women in need, to create a less stressful and more confident period. Visit www.28daysproject.org for more information.
About the Author
