Donations for Dignity, a Colorado community organization that collects and helps deliver hygiene and period products to those in need, participates in Menstrual Hygiene Day on May 28th by bringing awareness to many struggling with period poverty.
Over 11 million people in the US could not afford menstrual products in the past year. About half of that number were forced to choose between menstrual products and food- from the Journal of Global Health Reports.
As assistance programs like WIC and SNAP don’t cover period products, the need for menstrual products such as pads and tampons are great.
Diane Cushman Neal, founder of Donations for Dignity, covers the significance of period poverty-
“The impacts of period poverty are widespread and extend far beyond inconvenience – affecting women's mental, emotional and physical health," explains Cushman "According to an independent study we recently conducted, 47% of Colorado women currently menstruating report experiencing period poverty. This is NOT ok. We're partnering with organizations throughout Colorado to take action – raising awareness, providing products, increasing access and working toward solutions to achieve menstrual equity. Over the last two and a half years, we've provided more than 3.1 million organic period products where the need is greatest and access is crucial."
The organization is filling a huge need in Colorado, here’s some of the accomplishments they’ve celebrated:
- Donations for Dignity has provided 3,151,326 organic pads, tampons and pantyliners throughout the state over the last two and a half years (this equals 12,500 years of products provided)
- Through its network of strategic partners, Donations for Dignity also provided 337 Aunt Flow period dispensers, more than 50 baskets with period products and supplied access to free monthly period products
- They’ve increased access to free period products for colleges, community colleges and universities including Colorado State University's Rams Against Hunger; middle and high schools in Denver, Douglas and Jefferson Counties; the city of Denver; as well as community organizations such as Jewish Family Service (JFS) Weinberg Food Pantry, Roundup River Ranch and more
- Governor Polis signed the state House Bill 1055 the “Pink Tax” into law, which makes state sales tax exempt on essential hygiene products including period products, benefiting more than 1.6 million menstruators in Colorado
- The Don't Tax Dignity coalition has worked tirelessly to extend the sales tax exemption for essential hygiene products to cities and counties throughout the state
"Behind every statistic are real people, and stories - like Christina's and Mikayla's," says Rosie Glaser, director of resource provisions for Donations for Dignity. "To me, menstrual equity is an action word. It means understanding individual and community menstrual health related needs, and using this knowledge to create access to safe menstrual products and inclusive menstrual health education. At Donations for Dignity, we have a passion for increasing access to period products and helping to create menstrual equity."
-
Sources include: Donations for Dignity, 05/25/2023, Donations for Dignity Celebrates Menstrual Hygiene Day - May 28, 2023, [Press Release]
Comments / 1