Dignity Grows’ Hartford Chapter, in collaboration with the Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford, delivered 200 personal and menstrual hygiene totes to help serve displaced tenants and neighbors affected by the deadly Jan. 9 fire in the Bronx, New York.

While community members of New York’s 15th Congressional District, led by Representative Ritchie Torres (D-NY), collected many needed items, personal hygiene necessities were not among the donated items. District Director Nanette Alvarado found a solution in Dignity Grows, a national nonprofit dedicated to providing free menstrual and comprehensive hygiene supplies for those in need. 

Dignity Grows founder and CEO Jessica Zachs, a resident of West Hartford, quickly organized volunteer efforts to assemble 200 hygiene totes packed with items such as menstrual products, disposable razors, soap, shampoo, deodorant, toothbrush and more. Jennifer Tolman Schwartzman, Dignity Grows COO, delivered the totes to the Bronx Community College campus for distribution to those impacted by the fire. 

“It was heartening to see how the community came together to help their neighbors. There were donated goods from floor to ceiling at the college, but there were no supplies to help with daily hygiene needs,” Schwartzman remarked. “Dignity Grows helps bring the issues of hygiene and period poverty to the forefront, during everyday life and during moments of crisis.”

“I thank Dignity Grows for delivering 200 totes filled with personal hygiene materials to the victims, and the organization’s ongoing support during this difficult time,” said Torres. “Our Bronx community thanks you.”

Main Photo: A member of the Bronx Community College Public Safety team unloads Dignity Grows totes donated by the Hartford community for victims of the Bronx fire.