Daily Inspiration: Meet Teysha Wheeler-LeManski

Today we’d like to introduce you to Teysha Wheeler-LeManski. 

Hi Teysha, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I didn’t know it had a name at the time, but I struggled with period poverty. I struggled to afford period products each month, I made my own reusable cloth pads out of necessity, but discovered how amazing they were very quickly! I thought rashes were normal when using pads, but turns out I was allergic to disposable products. So, you could say reusable period products quite literally changed my life! They also allowed me to save hundreds of dollars each year by not buying disposables each month, I was able to use that money towards groceries, bill and gas. 

*Period poverty is a topic not many people want to talk about, so most suffer in silence. It’s people you wouldn’t realize are struggling, your friend, your neighbor, your sister. They will use disposable products longer than is safe, and will often have to use items not meant for menstrual products that can be dangerous. Having access to reusables means they’ll always have the items they need and they are safe and comfortable for them to use too. 

I realized how beneficial reusables were for me and thought there had to me more people out there struggling like I did, I wanted to help out a charity by providing them but there were no charities offering reusable menstrual products in the USA, Canada or Europe. So, I took it upon myself to start one! We opened in 2016 and have sent out thousands of cloth pads, menstrual cups, and hygiene items to people in need each year since then! 

We are a fully volunteer & donation-run non-profit, so we are able to help so many people in need because of our amazing volunteers and donors! They have a passion and kindness that’s so contagious! It’s a beautiful sightseeing people come together to help others. 

Along with providing cloth pads, menstrual cups, and hygiene items like underwear, soap, deodorant, detergent, dental care, etc., we provide education on how beneficial reusable menstrual products are. We use our social media platforms (TikTok @end.period.poverty.cco, Instagram & Facebook @clothconnectionoutreach) to spread the word of reusables, our programs, and our mission!) 

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
While we have grown, we have met so many amazing supports to help keep us running, but we rely on donations to keep helping people. Our main goal is to hire someone local, teach them a skill (sewing), and pay them a livable wage to sew cloth pads for our charity. To do that, we are required to pay an FDA fee yearly, buy supplies and hire someone. So, finically, we would need some large donors, or a grant to do that. We are stable where we are for now, but if we want to grow and be able to help even more people, we require a means to more funds. Once, we are up and running, we project we will be self-sufficient within the first year and no more funding will be needed from outside sources. 

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a creative person by nature and sewing was my go-to. So naturally, it progressed into a business. I made and sold cloth pads; I enjoy making them so much! I’m known for unique items and as a pattern designer. I’m a problem solver you could say. 

I love creating pad patterns, but I’m most proud of starting the non-profit and helping people in need have access to healthy, money-saving reusable menstrual products. 

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
You can’t run a volunteer-led nonprofit if you don’t have passion for helping others. Running a non-profit is a ton of work but it’s a labor of love for me. I get to teach my children about the world and about empathy for others. I hope people (and my children) can look up to me and find the drive to follow their dreams too. 

My dream is for my charity to not be needed anymore, that would mean everyone would have access to menstrual products that work well for them. That would be an amazing day! But I would be sad I couldn’t come to work and do what I do, but until that day happens, we’ll be here helping people in need. 

Contact Info:

• Website: clothconnectionoutreach.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clothconnectionoutreach/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/clothconnectionoutreach
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcixigII2ApUNxVFwDnoN7w/featured
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@end.period.poverty.cco