An Edmonds woman who directs local efforts to provides feminine hygiene kits for girls and women in need has been named Washington State’s Young Mother of the Year.
April Haberman will represent Washington state through the national organization American Mothers Inc. She will have the title starting this Sunday — Mother’s Day — for a year, taking over from last year’s winner, Sarah Passey of Cheney.
In addition to being a mom to 11-year-old Rachael and 14-year-old Ben, the 46-year-old Haberman — who is married to Edmonds dentist James Haberman — started the Edmonds Chapter of Days for Girls. It’s an international grassroots non-profit organization, with 280 chapters worldwide, that has made reproductive health awareness, education and sustainable feminine hygiene its mission.
After attending a puberty class with her daughter, Haberman began wondering if there were programs that provided feminine products to local homeless women or women in poverty. She was connected to the Days for Girls organization, where founder Celeste Mergenhad designed a reusable pad for distribution in a kit that contains two shields, eight liners, one travel-size bar of soap, one pair of panties, a cloth drawstring tote bag, a washcloth and two gallon-size Ziploc bags to store and wash used liners. Each component of the kit is washable and will last about three years. You can learn more about that project here.
Haberman distributes kits to girls in need around Edmonds, through outlets such as the Edmonds School District, the Cocoon House in Everett and local food banks. She has also cultivated a group of volunteers — ranging from ages 9 to 70 — to sew and distribute the kits.
And Haberman also noted a new social venture launching in May — an underwear line under the Zuberi name, which means strong in Swahili — benefiting Days for Girls. You can learn more here.
While Haberman is proud to be honored for her work (in addition to being named Young Mother of the Year, she also recently received the 2015 Ruby Award from the Sno-King Soroptomists) she stresses that “it’s really not about me. It’s about raising awareness for moms like me who support their families and communities.”
“Just to be able to represent the city of Edmonds and the state of Washington, it really is an honor. It’s an honor to be a mom, I just hope every other mom out there feels proud of their job.”
Congrats to April Haberman. She is such a great example of leadership and mentorship in action – and well deserving of this award. Kudos from the Schindlers!
Congratulations April! What great things you are doing and bringing awareness to. Thank you for all your amazing efforts. Well deserved.
Hooray April! You are amazing to all those who know you! Keep up the great work and mothering! Blessings!