Students in Gaithersburg to mark 9/11 anniversary with day of service

High school students in Gaithersburg, Maryland, will gather Sept. 11 for Districts for Dignity, a 9/11 Day of Service event that blends volunteerism, menstrual-health education and a competition to assemble emergency period kits. About 7,000 kits are expected to go to Comfort Cases for girls entering foster care.

Why it matters: - The event turns the 25th anniversary of 9/11 into a hands-on service project for students with no personal memory of the attacks. - The kits are expected to support girls ages 10 and older entering foster care, where access to menstrual products and basic preparedness can be especially limited. - The project links remembrance with a concrete local outcome: thousands of essential supplies going directly to children in care.

What happened: - High school students from across the region will gather Friday, Sept. 11, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Bohrer Park at Summit Hall Farm in Gaithersburg, Maryland. - The event is called Districts for Dignity: The Period Games and is presented by The PATESI Foundation, Inc. - The program is part of the nationwide observance of the 25th anniversary of Sept. 11 and the September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance. - The PATESI Foundation is among about 200 nonprofits, schools and community organizations across 40 states receiving support through $3 million in grants from 9/11 Day. - Student teams will assemble Emergency Period Kits while participating in a menstrual-health education and advocacy event. - The school that completes the greatest number of kits will receive the Dignity Cup.

The details: - The event opens with remarks from Yvonne Esipila Patron, CEO and co-founder of The PATESI Foundation. - A Menstrual & Postpartum Equity Walk/Parade will follow the opening. - Students will learn about menstrual and postpartum poverty, menstrual health, dignity, stigma and the importance of involving young people of all genders in the discussion. - An anticipated five to eight local high schools are expected to participate. - Youth Ambassadors are helping mobilize schools, educate peers and lead teams during the event. - Judges and community partners are expected to include representatives from PATESI Kenya, Identity and Montgomery College Takoma Park/Silver Spring. - Volunteers are also expected from SevaRise, Back Road Kings & Queens and the broader community. - Judges will also recognize the Best Project Board and present the Heart of Dignity Award to the school whose students most powerfully explain what they learned. - About 7,000 kits are expected to be donated to Comfort Cases, with a long-term goal of 10,000 kits. - The kits will be included in Comfort Cases backpacks for girls ages 10 and older entering foster care. - Comfort Cases has provided more than 320,000 backpacks since its founding in 2013. - The organization works to ensure children entering foster care are treated with dignity and are not forced to carry belongings in trash bags.

Between the lines: - The event uses competition, parade-style pageantry and peer leadership to make service more engaging for teens. - The focus on menstrual and postpartum poverty reflects a broader effort to normalize conversations about menstrual health and reduce stigma. - The 9/11 Day model keeps the anniversary tied to civic action rather than commemoration alone. - The partnership with Comfort Cases gives the service project a direct distribution channel and a measurable impact.

What's next: - Event organizers expect awards, a raffle, a Traveling Period Cup presentation and a closing celebration later in the evening. - A community cleanup and breakdown is scheduled for 7:30-8:00 p.m. - Community members who are not affiliated with a participating school can still join by registering through the volunteer link: More information. - Organizers say the long-term goal is to grow the kit drive to as many as 10,000 kits.

The bottom line: - The 9/11 anniversary event is designed to turn remembrance into service, while delivering practical supplies to foster youth who need them most.