“When I come across a cause that ignites a passion in me,” Lindsey told me, “I’m just all in. I read everything I can about it and learn, learn, learn. I just want to do everything possible to bring positive change to our world. Do you know what I mean?”
There is a saying that the smallest act of kindness can make big differences. We believe in that. The primary purpose of Melrose Random Acts of Kindness Day is not just to spend one day of the year being kind, it is to refocus and renew those pledges to kindness that can be demonstrated throughout the year. Lindsey gets this. She more than gets it; she lives it.
“I was helping out at Pine Street Inn and someone happened to mention something about Period Poverty. I couldn’t believe it. I was shocked. I went home and started researching what it was and how I could help.”
Period Poverty is the struggle many low-income women and girls face while trying to afford menstrual products. As remarkable as it might seem, feminine hygiene products are not covered under WIC or SNAP programs and Food Stamps cannot be used to purchase these essentials. Although great strides have been made with the I AM bill, legislation has yet to pass in our Massachusetts House of Representatives to ensure that feminine hygiene is available to all. Although there are many ways to tackle the problem and express our outrage, Lindsey took it upon herself to make a difference in a way she was confident would work.
“I just decided to start having ‘Period Parties’,” she told me. “I’d call all of my friends and say ‘hey, let’s have a night out,’ and everyone would be so happy to get together…especially after the pandemic. I mean we were craving personal connections, you know? So then I’d say, ‘bring some tampons with you!’ and I’d get a laugh back or whatever and it would give me the opening to start spreading the word that we need to do something. We need to help.”
After several parties and more than a few drop offs to Dignity Matters, Lindsey received a call from the Executive Director of the program. “Kate asked me to be a regional director and since I was already collecting things anyway, of course I said OK.”
You can find a Drop Box for feminine hygiene products outside of Lindsey’s house on 132 East Foster Street in Melrose. “When the boxes get full, my husband drops them off on his way to work. It’s easy and it helps and we all should be helping all of the time.”
Lindsey ‘s passion to provide period products to those in need is simply one of the many ways she chooses to give back to a world where she sees herself as incredibly blessed. There are homeless dogs and adoption sites. There are women-led businesses and the desire to grow them and watch them succeed. There are children, hers and the many who are served at the Montessori School she helps develop and grow. And there are the rest of us, each trying to make a difference in any small way possible, who are inspired by her passion and commitment to a community of kindness each day in so many ways.
