Reviving the Monthly Club

Photo Credit: Taylor Dresner

Menstrual poverty among DC residents is a real problem, and one that the School Without Walls’ “monthly club” was created to try and fight. This club helps combat this struggle  by donating money and products to the DC diaper bank, stocking school bathrooms, and raising awareness of the issue.

One problem in the DC community that freshman Penelope Champa believes the club is helping to solve is the unawareness that period poverty exists. She says “the club, in my opinion, definitely gives money, but also raises awareness on the issue of period poverty and the fact that many people can’t afford period products.” By standing on corners during drives and talking to people about the issue, the club is not only getting people to donate, but also encouraging people to think about this unknown issue a little more. 

Anna Mayer (‘25) agrees that this club helps with the stigma surrounding menstrual cycles, but specifically within our school. “I think it has helped spread awareness about periods in general. I remember Marissa Bello, who was the founder, said that her little act of feminism would be to carry her pads to the bathroom instead of putting them in her pocket. That has really stuck with me, and now I try to do that. I think instilling confidence and limiting shame for women and girls is something that the club has been really helpful for” she says.

The impact this club has on DC, and specifically the DC diaper bank, has been amazing. After this year’s first drive, the Monthly Club donated over $1600 to the diaper bank. However, donating money is not their only goal. The club also strives to improve the SWW bathrooms by stocking them with products collected through the drives.

When asked about the difference this club makes in the community, co-leader Esme Takacs (‘25) says that “It’s very important for not just, you know, the DC community as a whole, but just for the school, because seeing the impact that putting all the products in the bathroom has, it’s nice to know you’re making a difference right here.” 

The Monthly Club has been running since June of 2021, right before the current leaders were freshmen. Since then, club operations have evolved in order to increase efficiency and produce a more positive impact. One of these changes is making the drives more consistent throughout the school year.

According to Takacs, there was only one leader in charge of all club operations during past years. This made it hard to consistently run drives and other events throughout the entirety of the school year. “I know in the past, people talked about how the leaders tended to burn out halfway through the year, but with three we are able to split the work really well,” Takacs says. 

Mayer also has noticed changes in the club, as she has been involved since the summer before her freshman year. “I’ve seen the leadership develop. It’s been different leaders each year. I think we have grown in our messaging and in our strength. Obviously it started as a spaller thing, and it’s been able to expand and grow in its reputation and credibility” she says. 

Joining a club has many benefits, one of them being a community. This is Champa’s favorite part about it. She says, “I’ve found it very enjoyable. So far, there are lots of nice people and my friends are in it. So I really enjoy what I’m doing.”

Another endearing quality of joining the Monthly Club is the community service hours. At every drive, which occurs monthly, there is an opportunity to receive around 4 hours. During these drives there are many ways one can participate. For example, standing on corners asking people to donate, manning a table placed in a central location, or advertising the cause in other ways.

In the future, the club aspires to begin holding simultaneous drives at two locations. This change will hopefully help bring in more revenue while also making it more accessible for more members to participate. 

So how important is this problem, really? “Ballard Brief”, a research library dedicated to communicating important social issues, stated that as of 2019, 64% of menstruators across the United States said that they struggled with period poverty. This problem is obviously apparent in our country, and this club is striving to help solve at least a tiny bit of it within our area. 

The Monthly Club is still welcoming new members, and meets on Wednesdays from 8:15-8:55! They also hold monthly drives at Eastern Market, which are advertised on their instagram account: @themonthlyclubsww.