DANBURY, Connecticut — Western Connecticut State University and The MoonCatcher Project will host a MoonBee from 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025, in Warner Hall on the university’s Midtown campus, 181 White St. in Danbury. A MoonBee is a community event where people come together to help create MoonCatcher Kits, which include washable, reusable menstrual pads. In many parts of the world, buying disposable pads is not a viable option due to the cost, and as a result, girls and young women are unable to attend school due to lack of access to menstrual hygiene products.
At the Feb. 12 MoonBee, volunteers will gather to sew, cut, iron, turn and assemble the pads. Attendees will sit together and talk as our ancestors did during old-fashioned sewing bees. Everyone is welcome and there are many ways to participate. No sewing experience is necessary, only an interest in period justice for all. The first 20 students to sign up will receive a free reusable menstrual cup or disk courtesy of University Health Services. Register to attend here.
WestConn Professor of Social Sciences Dr. Christine Hegel-Cantarella, who invited The MoonCatcher Project to campus, said, “We are thrilled to have The MoonCatcher Project coming to campus to lead students and members of the community in a sewing bee. This organization was started in 2010 to help girls stay in school when they have their period by providing reusable pad kits. The Project has made an impact in over 30 countries around the world and now supports eight sewing guilds in Africa.”
Hegel-Cantarella continued, “For this event, we’ll be sewing together and assembling kits to be given to girls in Uganda and Malawi. Everyone will receive information and patterns for making period kits so that those who are interested can continue the work after the event. MoonCatcher founder Ellie vonWellsheim will also be teaching participants how to create period justice in our own local communities by setting up period pantries in schools, churches, and other institutions. I think this is a great way for WestConn students to connect with members of our community who care about the same issues,” Hegel-Cantarella added.
For more information, contact Dr. Christine Hegel-Cantarella at hegelcantarellac@wcsu.edu or email Communications and Marketing at pr@wcsu.edu.
Western Connecticut State University changes lives by providing all students with a high-quality education that fosters their growth as individuals, scholars, professionals and leaders in a global society. Our vision: To be widely recognized as a premier public university with outstanding teachers and scholars who prepare students to contribute to the world in a meaningful way.