Text by ARATI PERIYANNAN and MAYA MUKHERJEE
Clothes for change
Art by XIAOHAN LI
Princess Project Club holds drive for sexual assault survivors
C
o-founders of the Paly Princess Project Club Ashley Meyer and Kaila Chun originally envisioned a club that would collect and provide prom dresses to those in need. However, they encountered
cording to Meyer. “This project aligned with our values such as empowering women, so we thought it was perfect,” Meyer said. Executive director Lisa a problem when COVID-19 hit. With prom Blanchard founded the Gratebeing cancelled, the ful Garment Project dress drive was no “One single thread is not as her capstone projlonger relevant. Rather than so strong, but as we come ect to get her undergraduate degree giving up, the club took their goal in a together, all these groups from Notre Dame de Namur Univerdifferent direction — and people and students sity. The project towards the Grateful Garment Project, and everybody, we be- collects clothes and puts them into kits an organization that come much stronger colto provide to sexual works to restore digassault survivors afnity to sexual assault lectively.” ter they go through survivors. a forensic examinaAmong other — LISA BLANCHARD, founder of the tion. new projects, such Garment Project In this examas putting up postination, the individers promoting body ual’s clothes are ofpositivity and holding a drive for hygiene ten taken and bagged for evidence. Often, products, the club has focused on collecting these survivors are sent home in paper-thin items for the Grateful Garmen Project. The club, working to expand its reach, gowns, similar to napkins, according to donated over 70 items to the Grateful Gar- Blanchard. This is where the Grateful Garment Project during the fall semester, ac- ment Project steps in.
“ I t [the goal of the Grateful Garment Project] is to restore dignity to those who had it stolen through some form of sexual violence and to help change the world,” Blanchard told Anthro Magazine. Now, the project has grown into six programs that are accessible to 96% of the California population and involve assistance programs such as counseling programs and law enforcement, according to Blanchard. According to Blanchard, community efforts such as the Paly Princess Project’s drive are necessary to keep the Grateful Garment Project running. “It’s just like a rope,” Blanchard said. “One single thread is not so strong, but as we come together, all these groups and people and students and everybody, we become much stronger collectively.”
Prom makeup & accessory drive (February 22 - April 22)
The Paly Princess Project Club is working with the Boys & Girls Club to collect new makeup, jewelry in good condition, nail polish, and makeup remover. These items will be distributed by the Boys & Girls Club to high schoolers who need them for prom. Donation drop off locations are in the tower building and in the library hallway.
14 April 2022
