[Surprise, AZ | June 2025] Almost 10 years ago, Kay Wright was listening to the radio and heard about a program in Texas that was working to supply homeless women with a greatly needed but rarely discussed item – feminine hygiene products for “that time of the month.”

 

Ms. Wright started Women 4 Women” in Tempe, but very quickly learned the need went far beyond her hometown. She needed someone to help coordinate W4W’s outstanding work in the Surprise area, and that’s where she found Rotary and Jo Grant.

 

Under the guidance of Ms. Grant and with the help of several West Valley Rotary clubs, the project has expanded throughout the West Valley.

 

“The need is real,” said Ms. Grant.

 

Collection drives commonly serve other, very needed but more common items such as diapers, or food and water. Women’s menstrual hygiene is less-often mentioned but exceptionally necessary. A recent article that Jo Grant read stated the expense of these items has grown significantly, and the rate of the pricing increase surpasses that of even food prices, comparatively.

 

The West Valley W4W on a regular basis supports organizations such as St. Mary’s and Valley View food banks, HART Pantry, the Salvation Army, Mountain Park Health Clinic in Goodyear, and the Goodyear Food Bank. Populations supported include the homeless, the domestic violence displaced, as well as schools and shelters. 

 

The West Valley W4W is expecting to surpass over 5,000 women’s hygiene kits distributed during the 2025-26 fiscal year. The Tempe-area focus of the organization distributes an estimated ten times that, annually.

 

“I know the first time I personally experienced Women 4 Women’s mission at a ‘packing party’ with the Surprise/Sun City West Rotary Club, I had never given the concept a moment’s thought. When you think about all the women going through difficult times that need these items – truly an “aha moment, said Adria Poindexter, a member of the Rotary Club of Glendale.

 

Partnerships with organizations such as Rotary, churches and others, W4W compiles hygiene kits in simple brown paper sacks. The brown paper bags are to offer dignity to the women receiving them, as the contents are packaged discreetly. 

West Valley Rotary clubs currently supporting and participating with W4W include Surprise/SCW, Glendale and Estrella. Recently at a packing party with the Rotary Club of Surprise, they assembled over 300 kits in about 45 minutes. Ms. Grant is a pro at setting up stations and the project works like an assembly line -- efficient and fast-paced, with plenty of chatting and fellowship taking place at the same time. Each assembled kit has an estimated value of five dollars, but what it offers to women is invaluable.

 

“Dignity, grace and empathy have no price tags, but are priceless,” said Ms. Poindexter.

 

Rotary members improve lives and bring positive, lasting change to communities around the world by promoting peace, fighting disease, providing clean water and sanitation, supporting education, saving mothers and children, growing local economies and protecting the environment. Rotary’s top priority is the global eradication of polio. Rotary launched its polio immunization program, PolioPlus, in 1985, and in 1988 became a leading partner in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative.

 

Rotary brings together a global network of volunteer leaders dedicated to tackling the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges. Rotary connects 1.4 million members of more than 46,000 Rotary clubs in over 200 countries and geographical areas. Their work improves lives at both the local and international levels, from helping those in need in their own communities to working toward a polio-free world. For more information, visit Rotary.org.

 

For information about Rotary District 5495 in Ariziona visit rotary5495.org or email membership@rotary5495.org.

 

 

CONTACT:
Jo Grant, Women 4 Women Surprise, (520) 401-2878, women4womensurprise@gmail.com

 

Adria Poindexter, Rotary Club of Glendale, (951) 265-1815, aopoindexter@gmail.com