Welcome to the July Volunteer Newsletter from the Community Engagement Team at Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region! Each month we send updates, resources, and upcoming volunteer opportunities straight to your inbox. Our volunteers have managed to stay busy as everyone continues to do social distancing and virtual events.
Pride Care-A-Van
Even though Pride Month looked different this year due to COVID-19, there was no shortage of pride in St. Louis as Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region joined local businesses, non-profits, and residents in the first ever Pride Care-A-Van. Around 150 cars, decked out with messages of solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community and the Black community, paraded around the city on June 28. More photos of the event are on the St. Louis Post-Dispatch website.
Intern of the Month: Amina
This month, we are highlighting one of our outstanding Planned Parenthood interns! July’s Intern of the Month is Amina! Amina graduates this summer from UMSL with a Bachelors in Social Work, Minor is Psychology, and a Certificate in Trauma Studies.
Q: Why is it important for you to intern with Planned Parenthood?
A: It is important for me to intern with Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region because I stand with the reproductive health and rights movement. Here at Planned Parenthood, I am able to help with hands-on tasks and events that advance the justice of reproductive health, abortions, sex education, etc. This is important because we are helping students, teenagers, adults, minorities, etc. in helping them achieve reproductive freedom and educating them about smart sex, birth control, STDs & STIs, healthy relationships, gender, consent, and anatomy.
Q: Do you have a favorite experience so far with Planned Parenthood?
A: My favorite experience so far while interning at Planned Parenthood was lobbying at Jefferson City. There, I was able to lobby for five bills and advocate for the clients, patients, students, and more that utilize Planned Parenthood services. Another event that I enjoyed hosting was our safer sex kit assembly party. We had around 50 volunteers come out and help us assemble safer sex kits to be passed out to restaurants and other agencies in the St. Louis region.
Q: What else would you like to share about what being a Planned Parenthood supporter means to you?
A: What being a Planned Parenthood supporter means to me is something bigger than just a volunteer or supporter role. Anyone who utilizes Planned Parenthood's services knows the stigmas and biases people have against the agency. Being able to stand up and support an agency that does so much for its clients, supporters, volunteers, interns, staff, etc. is pleasing to the soul and knowing we’re making a difference to someone's life.
Kinloch Community Cleanup
Saturday, July 11, 8-10 a.m. or 10 a.m.-noon
Join Planned Parenthood’s team at the annual Kinloch Community Cleanup on Saturday, July 11. Kinloch is the oldest African American community to be incorporated in the state of Missouri. The city was home to a vibrant and flourishing Black community for much of the 19th and 20th centuries. Help us improve this historic neighborhood. This event is open to the entire family, so spend some quality time together this summer giving back to our community! Register to join a shift with our team.
Compete in Our Scavenger Hunt to Win Prizes
It’s not too late to score free Planned Parenthood swag! Participate in our scavenger hunt! Earn points by completing activities and compete against other supporters to win prizes. To enter, email [email protected] with your completed activities by July 15.
If you have any questions about our volunteer programs or this newsletter, please contact the Community Engagement team at [email protected].
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