About a dozen women sat around a long table and began placing toiletries into a bright, pink bag.
The women are members of Sunrise of Bethesda’s Live With Generosity Club.
On Thursday, they walked from their apartments and entered an activity room eager to join an assembly line to prepare bags that will be given to Stepping Stones, a shelter in Rockville for homeless families.
Jazmine Onque, activities and volunteer coordinator at the assisted living facility on Battery Lane, saw a documentary on how hard it is for homeless women to have menstrual products when they need them. “They resort to unsanitary measures. It becomes very difficult for them during that time.”
Onque decided the facility’s Live With Generosity Club’s next project would be to provide women with the personal hygiene they need. Sunrise residents already have worked on a canned goods drive and collected coupons for service members. They also read to students at the nearby Bethesda Elementary School and Primrose School of Downtown Bethesda.
“It’s wonderful to give back,” said Dr. Susan Runner, who has lived at Sunrise of Bethesda for about one year. “Most of the people here are able and want to do these things.”
The former oral surgeon added, “I’ll do anything. I think about the sanitary stuff. I can’t even imagine not having it when you need it.”
Joan Burg, who has been a resident for about 18 months, said she believes women in need “would rather have these bags than money.” She added, “We have to take care of everybody.”
Burg said she finds it very rewarding to help others. “You take care of children. You take care of the homeless. It’s a natural thing. That’s what women do.”
Onque’s “Little Dignity Kits” included sanitary napkins, toothbrushes and dental floss, soap, wipes, deodorant and lip balm. They also included two pieces of candy to cheer up the recipients, she explained.
All the items were donated by residents of the assisted living facility and their families as well as members of the staff or facility partners.
