Danielle Raymo
Owner, Rochester Brainery
info@rochesterbrainery.com
585.730.7034

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ROCHESTER BRAINERY TEAMS UP WITH PENCILS & PAPER PROGRAM TO PROVIDE MENSTRUAL CARE PRODUCTS FOR MONROE COUNTY STUDENTS

ROCHESTER, NY (4/9/22) – Every day in public, private, charter and parochial schools in Monroe County, children of all ages attend class without the most basic supplies needed to be successful. Dedicated teachers often spend an average out-of-pocket $500 to $1,000 each school year just to ensure the students in their classrooms have the tools needed to learn.

Pencils & Paper, a program of Jewish Family Services, provides free school supplies to teachers in high-poverty Monroe County schools - where more than 70% of students are eligible for free and reduced meals. Teachers can shop for basic classroom supplies such as pencils, paper, pens, glue, markers, art supplies, tissues, and more twice a year, and receive an estimated $800 worth of school supplies at each shopping trip.

“We’ve had the chance to work with Pencils & Paper in a small way since 2020, allowing folks to donate to this incredible organization at checkout on our website,” says Danielle Raymo, founder of Rochester Brainery.  “This year, we wanted to make the commitment to donate 1% of our profits to Pencils & Paper in 2022 and beyond.”

During a recent Rochester Brainery team visit to Pencils & Paper in January, the team also noticed an empty spot on the shelf reserved for menstrual care products. In addition to school supplies, Pencils & Paper aims to provide single bags of 21 menstrual pads and 7 liners to teachers in grades 4-8, handing out 25+ bags per week but experience a consistent deficit in supplies.

“Access to menstrual hygiene supplies increases attendance, furthers educational equity, and provides dignity for menstruating students by reducing stigma around menstruation,” says Amy Rau, Director of Pencils and Paper.

Rochester Brainery pledges to help with the goal of collecting 10,500 pads (375 boxes of 28 qty.) and 3,500 liners (70 boxes of 50 qt.) during a two-week drive, from April 11-April 25

DROP OFF DATES: APRIL 11 - APRIL 25
DROP OFF LOCATIONS: Rochester Brainery, Laughing Gull Chocolates, Katboocha

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Rochester Brainery is a community classroom, event space, and retail shop location in Neighborhood of the Arts. Since 2013, Rochester Brainery has focused on making teaching classes and hosting events accessible to anyone in the community who has something to share.

Jewish Family Services (JFS) has been serving the Rochester community for over 100 years.  Our work at JFS is grounded in the time-honored Jewish tradition of Tikkun Olam, or the repairing of the world. Pencils & Paper, a program of Jewish Family Services, serves the educational and creative needs of children in the greater Rochester area by providing free school supplies to teachers in high poverty schools.

PHOTO FOLDER: Please use both the Pencils & Paper logo and the JFS logo.

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