Local nonprofit hosts feminine hygiene drives

Chloe Hawkins, Spectrum Editor

Richmond based nonprofit organization Tilted Crown provided hygiene products for young girls during the back-to-school season from Aug. 14 to Aug. 27. 

Tilted Crown founder and CEO Kyra Watson said the donation drives’ overall goal is to give ladies feminine hygiene care packages. She said it’s important to focus on that instead of the typical pens, pencils and paper that students already know to buy. 

“We focus on the notebooks and the school supplies, but we forget about the essentials,” Watson said. “Everyone is focusing on this spectrum of back-to-school, and I’m like wait — what about the necessities that need to go in the backpack as well?” 

Watson said her personal goal for these donations is to reach 100 people in the city. 

“If we go beyond that it would be awesome but these drives are definitely something I want to do on an annual basis,” Watson said.

Watson said she came up with the idea for the organization in 2021, but it didn’t officially come to life until May of this year. 

“We’re here to provide a community, like a safe space for all women of color,” Watson said. 

Watson’s organization tackles issues such as the maternal health crisis, reproductive rights and achieving healthcare justice for all women of color, she said. These hygiene donations aren’t the only thing Tilted Crown has planned for the community. 

“We are also doing community clean-ups and service around the cities and tri-cities,” Watson said. “We want to also provide mentorship to young girls after school.”

Eight hygiene drives occurred in the last two weeks throughout campus. A few of these locations include Monroe Park, the University Student Commons and the Student Organization and Volunteer Opportunities Fair. 

Program director Yasmin Woodward is a part-time mental health counselor trainee at Strategic Youth Services, where she provides intensive home care for youth and adults, according to Woodward. 

Woodward said her experience in social work and counseling helps her bring health awareness to Black women and women of color at this nonprofit. 

“Me learning how to be a public health practitioner really helps with advocacy for minorities,” Woodward said. “I’m more into politics than policy. A lot of our health policies directly harm marginalized groups.”  

VCU marketing alum and hygiene drive donor India Richardson said she heard about the hygiene drives through an Instagram post and thought it was a cool opportunity to highlight this issue, with females especially. 

“I thought it would be a good idea to help donate and push towards a good cause,” Richardson said. 

Richardson said she helped spread the word about these drives by reposting on social media and telling her family about it. Her donation consisted of multiple brands of pads from Always to organic ones in the effort to be inclusive, Richardson said.

Richardson said she likes that this drive is specifically targeted for young girls in the Richmond community.  

“Most of the time they can be forgotten, those who range from middle to high school,” Richardson said. “It’s good that they’re able to take advantage of what this organization is offering them”