Dignity Matters Opens Warehouse in Framingham

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Maureen Belger

508-361-6077

hopkintondignitymatters@gmail.com

Dignity Matters Opens Warehouse in Framingham

Dignity Matters, a Massachusetts based non-profit that provides feminine care products, underwear, and bras to women who are homeless and school-aged girls recently moved their headquarters from Wayland to 7 Bishop St, Building 29, Framingham.

A staggering number of women living in homeless shelters in almost every community throughout Massachusetts do not have access to many of the items other women take for granted – namely, tampons, pads, new underwear, and new or gently used bras. Shelters and public schools cannot meet the demand and food stamps do not cover them. Every month, thousands of women face multiple crises: from dealing with infections to being unable to purchase sanitary supplies. Keeping oneself safe and clean isn’t always an option.

Kate Sanetra-Butler, a former corporate executive and mother of two was confronted with this reality when a woman living on the streets of Boston asked her for a spare tampon. In that moment, Dignity Matters was born. This non-profit is taking action by collecting and distributing these much-needed items to many women and girls in Massachusetts who are homeless. An all-volunteer organization, Dignity Matters is currently supporting 15 shelters, over 100 scattered sites for families, multiple domestic violence programs, food pantries, 11 after school programs and 30 schools in the greater Boston area.

The rapid growth of Dignity Matters in past 18 months since its founding has made it necessary to warehouse the many donations coming in. Thanks to a partnership between South Middlesex Opportunity Council (SMOC) and Dignity Matters (which began as a result of Dignity Matters supporting several of SMOC’s shelters), Dignity Matters was able to secure warehouse space within a SMOC owned building in Framingham.

Year to date, the organization has tripled its in-kind donations from 120,000 to over 360,000 donated products. In addition, through the many new partnerships Dignity Matters has secured this year, distribution to those in need is will also increase three-fold.

The move has provided a way to quickly inventory and distribute donations to those in need. It also provides an opportunity for volunteers to work alongside one another to assist with sorting, cleaning, inventory, and distribution.

For more information on how to get involved, please email info@dignity-matters.org or visit their website at www.dignity-matters.org.

From left to right: Jennifer Richtsmeier, Nancy Baker-Fowler, Pam Hastings, Sue Scandrett and Kate Sanetra-Butler (front row)