This week, the College Democrats Club of Saint Mary’s College proved that baked goods can be delicious as well as socially advantageous. The club, alongside various others such as Feminists United and Belles for Life, orchestrated a bake sale to raise funds for the charity Support the Girls, an organization which donates pads, tampons, bras and other sanitary objects to homeless women and girls.
Stephanie Stapleton, a senior at Saint Mary’s, heard about the sale and took action.
“The president of College Democrats, Hallie Nolan, found the organization Support the Girls and planned the event. I thought it was a timely and appropriate charity for the women of Saint Mary’s to assist,” she said over email, “Especially with the increase in the numbers of women and girls in homeless shelters due to the recent hurricanes. Support the Girls addresses a problem often forgotten in times of great need, even though these items are essential [to] women’s survival and comfort.”
While Stapleton was not personally affected by the hurricanes, she said she is well versed in the aftermath of storms such as these.
“I am focusing my senior comprehensive project around disaster relief, specifically focusing on displacement and natural disasters, so this cause is very timely for me,” she said.
When asked about her interest in the cause, Stapleton emphasized the need for personal hygiene products especially during times of destruction when acquiring these products could be more difficult.
“Knowing the struggles of personal hygiene and need for cleanliness, especially during that time of the month, I feel very passionately that these items should be available to every woman in need, not just those that can afford it. This seemed like a good way to make a difference and help alleviate this problem from all the way up here in South Bend,” she said.
At the bake sale the clubs will be selling chocolate chip cookies, pumpkin bread, muffins, brownies and other assorted baked goods. Along with these, the Saint Mary’s dining service generously donated twenty dozen cupcakes to be sold.
“We hope to raise at least a few hundred dollars for Support the Girls, so that women who are victims of disaster can maintain their health and dignity a little bit easier,” Stapleton said.
After selling nearly $150 on the first day of their sale, they hope to exceed their goal of $300 by the second.
“We really weren’t sure how much we would be able to raise. We hoped a couple hundred, and it seems like we’re going to pass that goal,” Stapleton said.
Along with the cash from the sale, Support the Girls has an online donation on their website, which the club will donate through directly. The bake sale will run through Sept. 26in Reignbeaux lounge in Le Mans Hall.
