New U Women's Clinic Healing Hands Project and Women Helping Women Fund Tri-Cities Team Up

When Dr. Rachel Fidino accepted an opportunity in Seattle to advance her Gynecological career, little did she know where that path might lead?  While expanding her certifications in Women’s healthcare, breast cancer, cancer prevention and genetics, she became aware and involved in the plight of homeless and low-income women in King County. Wanting to help those women in need, Rachel and her husband Andrew founded a nonprofit called The Healing Hands Project.

The Healing Hands Project is a 501c3 approved nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower homeless women with dignity, knowledge, and basic human rights by improving menstrual health, access to necessities, and quality of life. Dr. Fidino moved back to the Tri-Cities in 2018 to open New U Women’s Clinic and Aesthetics and brought a division of The Healing Hands Project with her to help women in need that live in South Eastern Washington.

Recently HHP received a donation of 30,000 organic menstrual pads from the LOLA organization to support their mission. HHP has become a primary resource for women across Washington State, and has been blessed with community and private donor support allowing them to increase their distribution and outreach during the pandemic. “Our headquarters is full of pad donations and there is a need to get those systemically to low-income women free of charge so we contacted Women Helping Women Fund Tri-Cities to see if they could help.” explained Dr. Fidino. “The Women Helping Women Fund Tri-Cities has a similar mission as The Healing Hands Project to empower women and children to create healthy families and a vibrant community through raising awareness of the unmet needs of women and children”.

Women Helping Women Fund Tri-Cities began in 2000 granting over $2.6 million to 138 programs benefitting women and children in Benton and Franklin Counties. 

Alysia Johnson, Executive Coordinator for WHWFTC, agrees that a distribution partnership would be advantages to the community. “Our network of organizations that serve the Tri-City area women in need is a perfect match. We love being able to connect our community with resources.” 

Fidino and Johnson have collaborated to start the distribution process. Grace Clinic, Domestic Violence Services of BF Counties, Communities in Schools of Benton Franklin Counties, Mirror Ministries, SARC and the Union Gospel Mission (Women’s & Children’s Shelter) will receive the pads. 
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“We are so thankful for the donation of sanitary pads.  This is something people forget about, but when it is not available it can be very frustrating.  This donation will not only help those staying at the shelter, but will also help those on the street who are in need” stated Lisa Godwin with the Women and Children’s Center TCUGM.