From Help A Girl Out

Help A Girl Out (HAGO), a Berks County-based grassroots initiative dedicated to addressing period poverty and menstrual equity, proudly announces its fifth year of impact, marked by record-breaking growth, expanded reach and nonprofit partnerships, and the launch of its official website, HelpAGirlOutUSA.com.

Following a landmark year in 2025, HAGO enters its fifth year with unprecedented momentum. Donations increased by 82 percent, enabling expanded distribution across two counties and reaching menstruators at a scale never before achieved by the initiative.

This growth was made possible through cornerstone partnerships with Helping Harvest and Co-County Wellness, professional nonprofit organizations led by seasoned teams with deep regional expertise.

Through their established connections with Intermediate Units and the United Way, these partners strengthened HAGO’s outreach and distribution framework, ensuring essential hygiene products reached schools, agencies, and community members efficiently, responsibly, and with dignity.

“The scale of distribution we achieved last year changed what we knew was possible,” said Suzanne Cody, Founder of Help A Girl Out. “These partnerships allowed us to grow with intention while staying true to our grassroots values.”

From a dream to a system built for impact

New this year, HelpAGirlOutUSA.com serves as the official digital home for Help A Girl Out and represents a major step forward in sustainability and operational capacity. The website was designed by EB Designs and led by Liz Hafer, Chief Marketing Officer of HAGO and Owner of EB Designs.

Five years ago, HAGO existed only as an idea when Cody was invited to present to Berks Women in Motion (BWIM). At that time, she openly asked the women in the room — and the universe — for a sustainable way to address period poverty. That moment sparked a chain of relationships and collaborations that helped turn an idea into action.

Through Berks Women in Motion, Cody connected with Hafer, whose leadership at BWIM later became foundational to HAGO’s growth. Additional introductions at the presentation — including Stacy Perlaki, which led to Ali Pakradooni, and Jen Barkman — reinforced an expanding, behind-the-scenes network of women and allies committed to solving a problem society had long overlooked.

“This has always been a movement built through trust and connection,” said Cody. “Women showing up for one another, making introductions, sharing expertise, and building something that didn’t exist because it needed to.”

A website designed to move faster and reach further

More than a marketing tool, the new website allows HAGO to take requests, organize volunteers and partners, share timely information, and coordinate product distribution more efficiently. As distribution days grow larger and more complex, the platform ensures that products and information can move quickly to where they are needed most.

“With a professional web design in place, we can operate smarter,” said Hafer. “The site helps us organize, communicate, and respond faster — so when distribution day comes, we’re ready.”

2026 campaign kick-off events announced

To launch its fifth year, Help A Girl Out will host three Campaign Kick Off events on Feb. 4, from 5:30-7 p.m., giving participants the opportunity to learn about the initiative, pick up a collection box, and activate their networks for the upcoming campaign. Attendees may choose from three locations, all of which are listed on the new website.

Businesses, schools, organizations, and individuals are encouraged to attend a Kickoff event and register for a donation box as the first step in supporting the 2026 campaign.

Team HAGO is back. Let’s go!

With proven partnerships, a strengthened infrastructure, and a growing base of supporters, Team HAGO is back for another year of community-powered action. The 2026 campaign invites participants to activate their sphere of influence, collect essential hygiene products, and help ensure menstruators can fully participate in daily life — at school, at work, and in their communities — with dignity.

The goal is simple and ambitious: blow past last year’s totals. Let’s go!

To learn more, register for a collection box, or sign up for a Campaign Kick Off event, visit www.HelpAGirlOutUSA.com.