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The example her mother set more than four decades ago made such an impression on a Glenn Dale woman that she has spent the past 20 years helping others locally and globally.

"I look at myself in terms of women's issues," said Linda Andrews, 59. "My parents divorced when I was 5; I was raised by my mother. My mother was a good role model for me to be a strong woman, a woman with principles."

To satisfy her passion for women's issues, every month for the past two years Andrews has collected and sent sanitary pads to girls in Zambia, in the southern part of Africa, through the U.S. Department of State's "Once a Month Campaign" so girls don't miss school because of their menstrual cycles. Andrews estimates she has helped send about 50,000 sanitary pads.

"I can't believe that because of the lack of sanitary pads that girls are missing school," said Andrews, who works full-time as an employment discrimination attorney in Washington, D.C. "I found out about women's issues globally. The types of things women suffer, we take for granted. I became more interested."

The sanitary pads are sent by the state department to the Embassy of Zambia, then to the Forum for African Women Educationalists of Zambia, a non-governmental organization that distributes the pads to girls in schools.

Andrews said Nicole Peacock, outreach and non-governmental organization coordinator in African Affairs for the state department, told her about this need.

Peacock said she created the program two years ago after learning about the need through a U.S.-based non-governmental organization in Washington, D.C., with the goal of connecting the American public to the needs of African girls in a way that is tangible and makes sense.

"[Linda's] just been so loyal," Peacock said. "The cool thing about Once a Month is that [people] feel like they can do something, rather than stand by and feel helpless."

Andrews also is actively involved with the Prince George's County chapter of Zonta International, a global organization that works to advance the status of women worldwide through service and advocacy, and The Links Inc., an international, nonprofit organization for professional African-American women that focuses on women's issues and international issues. Both organizations donate sanitary pads and collect money for the products.

"Helping women is my passion, just because I really feel that women are the backbone of our society. Education is the key to ending poverty and violence around the world," said Andrews, a 20-year member of The Links and a five-year member of Zonta International.

Joyce Felder, 66, of Bowie, a member and past president of The Links, said Andrews brought the initiative to the group's attention about three years ago.

"For many of us, because of who we are and where we live, didn't really think that girls don't go to school during their menstrual cycle," she said. "The program ensures that girls can further their education — it is a benefit to that society as a whole."

Also through Zonta International, Andrews helps collect and donate clothes to the Family Crisis Center of Prince George's County and cell phones for battered women.

Andrews said it is important for people to volunteer in their communities and help people in need.

"When you help other people, you are helping your community and the whole world," she said. "I'm very committed to women's issues, to making this a better world for all of us."

E-mail Liz Skalski at eskalski@gazette.net.