A lot of people have come up to me in the past few months with the same question, "Why 'Campaign?'" I'd like to say that there was a lot of thoughtful deliberation over what to name something that has become such an important part of my life and that of so many others, but the meaning and intention behind using "campaign" in the title was actually retrospective. However cheesy it may seem, the name came to me in the middle of the night (yes, I know), and with very little thought. It just made sense.
"Campaign" carries with it a sense of urgency and movement. I love that about the word. With what seems like a stroke of fortune, I didn't think to name the manifestation of my passion for women's health and human rights some version of "Donation Project" or "Charity." Because in my mind, The Hygiene Campaign has always stood for something much more than simply collecting items for the homeless.
Yes, The Hygiene Campaign is dedicated to donating feminine hygiene products to homeless women. But if you think about that sentence for just a second, you'll realize that there's a plethora of issues underlying the surface level action of the campaign.
We can collect as many tampons and pads and diva cups as possible, but there will still be a stigma. We can donate as much of our money to what we see as a "good cause," but people will still cringe at the thought of menstruation.
So here we are. Addressing the problem, but never forgetting what the problem is and why we are here to help. In the greatest sense of the word, this is a campaign: A course of action to reach a goal that is greater than any of us, but achievable nonetheless. This is a campaign to open up a dialogue about menstruation and women's health through the recognition of a deeply engrained issue.
The Hygiene Campaign is here to donate feminine hygiene products to homeless women. Let's talk about it.
