Humanity House
One in five girls have missed school due to not having period protection. Seventeen million women who live in poverty have to choose between good hygiene and food. Girls and women who do not have adequate sanitary supplies either go without, reuse the same pad or tampon, or try and use only one tampon or pad for a day. They run a higher risk of cervical cancer, infections, and stress, depression and anxiety. Women and girls who cannot afford feminine products are forced to use socks, dishrags, or newspapers instead. Some of those who are homeless or in extreme poverty have no access to showers or laundry facilities and face shaming and humiliation.
Girls who are in school but lack sanitary supplies and stay home from school are on average 143 days behind their classmates in their education.
Though the FDA considers tampons and pads to be a medical item, WIC and SNAP see them as luxury items. In fact, SNAP classifies them in the same category as dog food, alcohol and cigarettes.
Menstruation is a completely normal biological function, just like urination, but we expect toilet paper to be free in our public restrooms and demand that women and girls pay for products that they need through no choice of their own.
On Thursday, Humanity House began our Dignity Drive. As you drive around Iola and Humboldt you will see a small, red heart on the window of some businesses. For 28 days, inside those businesses will be a box that is there to collect feminine hygiene products, pads, tampons, feminine wipes and incontinence supplies. We are also collecting small makeup bags to fill with these items. We will collect these donations and are making bags to give to the high schools and middle schools. Each bag will also extend the invitation to come by Humanity House and refill the bag.
The stigma attached to menstruation is one that needs to be wiped out. Shaming a female for a purely biological function is wrong. There is enough to deal with every month pain, cramping, headaches, bloating and generally being uncomfortable without having to deal with idiocy on top of all of that. If you have ever known a woman with PMS, it could also be dangerous. If you see the red heart, stop, drop off a box of hygiene items and do a little shopping. Make the world a better place for someone. Kindness matters!
