Suck It Up

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There are lots of things we can do without.

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That venti cinnamon dolce latte from Starbucks. You CAN make a cheaper version at home.

Disposable anything.  WOW, there is an original version of everything? Wash it, rinse it – use the non plastic/paper counterpart.

Bottled water.  A reusable drink container, refilled over and over,  does the same job.

The extra trip this week to the burger joint, pizza place, etc. Cooking at home is always an option.

There are hordes of things we can live without. We can suck it up and make do with doing it the old-fashioned way.

BUT

Having to suck it up when you’re a young girl or woman who can’t afford to buy pads or tampons is not something that should ever be on that list of things we should or can do without. (Gasp. She said tampon?)

Men, stick around. You have it easy; never having to budget for a box of pads, while your mother, sister, girlfriend, wife, coworkers, etc. have to cough up the dough for their little friend every month.

Sure, there are alternatives to pads. Back in Biblical times, the women went to a separate tent or place until *it* was over. The term “ragging it” (not in the musical or illegal sense) paints a clear picture of how women for centuries dealt with their period.  (Gasp, did she just say THAT?)  Wash, rinse, repeat, reuse. Ewww.  Ladies and gentleman, we are way beyond the days of wash cloths and toilet paper wrapping here.

At least, we’d hope to be.

Can you imagine going to school or work without a pad? And guys, can you imagine going to school or work with someone who couldn’t afford pads? NO one wants to think about it. It’s embarrassing? Try being the one who can’t afford one. The one who has to worry about “accidents” and deal with a less than pretty clean up.

There are many women and young ladies out there that due to limited budgets, find it difficult to purchase pads and tampons. People who shouldn’t have to make do with the original version to use over and over. This is where you can help- no matter your gender.

On the Spot and The Pittsburgh Tote Bag Project have teamed together this month for a #SisterSupplies drive. You can help by grabbing a couple (or 12! – one for each month) boxes of pads, tampons or panty liners, throwing them in a reusable tote bag (they love that over there at Tote Bag Project, you know), and dropping them off at one if the designated locations.

My teenage daughter and I purchased about $100($99.94)  in Sister Supplies. Revealing that one time she happened to not have any supplies with her at school, she says she would never want a girl to go through that all the time. Hitting the local Rite-Aide, which is running a buy one-get one 50% off sale on feminine products this week, landed us with 6 large, 50+ count boxes of tampons, 12 packages of pads, and 12 panty liners. I looked for the ones that had the bonus counts too – 50+10 free, 40+ 4 extra, etc. I got that happy-buzz feeling from scoring a good deal – and from grabbing up supplies for those who need it.

Simply Put – Help a sister in need not have to suck it up and give some supplies or organize a drive!

A Not-So-Funny Cartoon Image

EXCITING UPDATE ON THIS MORNINGS POST:

ANONYMOUS DONOR WILL MATCH YOUR DONATIONS TO TOONSEUM!!!

From Joe Wos-

Dear fans and friends,
I just wanted to share some good news with all of you.
An anonymous donor has pledged a matching fund of up to $5000 in support for ToonSeum as we recover from the water damage to items in our warehouse!
This is a dollar for dollar match!
To those who have already donated, we thank you so much! We are just delighted by the outpouring of support!
You can donate several ways: SEE BELOW
 

I received the letter that follows in an email last night. I’m sincerely asking you to help. Toonseum doesn’t just house cool, historic, comic items and iconic superheroes. The level of people that Toonseum has drawn to the city is above par. This is also a venue that lends it’s space for fundraisers, filming, and fan-friendly events. Joe Wos and Toonseum do so much to help the Pittsburgh community. Let’s lend a hand and give back with a donation now.

Dear friends of the ToonSeum,

I am writing to you today in a personal plea. Over the past five years the ToonSeum has had a great many successes with your help and support. We have grown from a tiny space inside of another museum to a unique independent attraction in downtown Pittsburgh’s Cultural District. We have brought in some of the top cartoonists in the nation and exhibited over 40 exhibits!  This New Year brings exciting new exhibits and opportunities including our newly opened Will Eisner’s New York exhibit on loan from Denis Kitchen and our friends at MOCCA.  I know as members and fans you will enjoy our summer exhibitions, which include Care Bears 30 Years of Caring, and Pittsburgh is Gotham!  We also have a great line up of programming and workshops.

As we enter another phase of our growth we have hit a small setback. Last week during the heavy rains, our warehouse began to leak and flood. While no original artwork was stored at this site we did lose a great number of books, comics, exhibition reproductions and equipment. Much of these items were awaiting transfer to our new ToonSeum library on site. This was a temporary offsite holding storage where we kept books and equipment awaiting cataloging and transfer. We also used this space to store event and workshop supplies and equipment.

The damage and clean up will be extensive. During this time the ToonSeum’s day-to-day operations will remain unaffected however the cost of replacing what was lost and the clean up will be difficult.
We are reaching out to you, our fans, for your help.
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Your tax-deductible donation will help support the ToonSeum is this tough time. Any amount is deeply appreciated and will help greatly.
There are several ways to give and links are provided below.
You can donate via Razoo at http://toonseum.org/waystogive.html
Paypal to donate@toonseum.org
Or by sending a check to:
The ToonSeum
945 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222

On behalf of the ToonSeum, our board, volunteers, staff and myself,
Thank you.
We exist because of fans like you.

Thanks,
Joe Wos

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I can’t help it- I keep picturing personified supplies, books, and comics being flooded – calling for help and trying to tread water to safety.

Simply Put- Losing your comics isn’t funny; make a donation to help Toonseum today.