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Women needing feminine hygiene products previously would have several sources they could turn to for these items. These were available in restrooms, at schools, and other locations and were often free of charge. These products are now rarely available, even for a cost, outside of purchasing them at a store. Lack of access to low or no cost feminine hygiene products have created what is referred to as Period Poverty. This is the inability to afford or have access to feminine hygiene products (pads, tampons, liners) and other hygiene items to manage a period. Without access approximately one in three low-income women have to miss school and/or work because they do not have the sanitary products needed.
With the recent economic situation throughout the US, the ability to provide hygiene products has gotten harder, since there are even fewer sources, the costs have increased, so there is a need that goes unanswered.
Lack of access to products is a health-related issue. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), poor hygiene measures during menstruation can pose serious health risks, such as reproductive and urinary tract infections, thrush, and others. Around 1.8 billion people menstruate every month worldwide, meaning at a given point each day, 800 million women and girls menstruate, comprising 26% of the global population. Access to hygienic products is paramount in maintaining the physical and mental health of women.
As such Gilbert Rotary Club has been supporting the Women4Women organization to assist in the purchasing of and packing such products into bags for distribution. Women4Women's mission is to help homeless and low-income women to "maintain their dignity, health, and self-respect by providing feminine hygiene products to unhoused and low-income women who might have difficulty affording such items". This project has been approved by our club officers; both in terms of packing the products and budgeting for the financial support. The club supports "packing parties" generally 8 times a year to be a part of the packing of 370,500 pads and 208,200 tampons in 2023 alone for Arizona women and girls. For every $1 donated, Women4Women distributes $3 worth of hygiene products.
At each of our packing parties, Gilbert Rotary provides financial assistance so they can use their purchase power to acquire more hygiene items. To augment this donation level, we are seeking a $1000 grant from Rotary District 5495, and will continue to use our funds to augment any award given to us by the district, to fund the ability to provide hundreds more products, as the cost is not eligible to be purchased with food stamps, so the women in need can maintain their physical and mental health monthly. We will continue to fund purchase of hygiene products and attend our hosted packing parties, as well as have sufficient funds for a match if awarded this grant.
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