Many women don’t think twice about buying a pack of pads or tampons from the store and the phrase "period poverty" is used when people don’t have adequate access to period products.
"These are basic necessities in life, and they're very expensive and very overlooked sometimes," says Abigail Woods, a student at Russell Sage.
What You Need To Know
- A college student with a passion for period equity is collecting donations and putting together over 100 bags full of different feminine hygiene products for women in need
- According to the Alliance for Period Supplies, nationally, 2 in 5 women struggle to purchase period products because of a lack of income
- In New York, 1 in 6 women and girls between the ages of 12-44 live below the federal poverty line
Woods is a college student with a passion for period equity. After collecting donations, she’s putting together over 100 bags full of different feminine hygiene products for women in need.
"I've talked to a couple of different faculty members about making this a semester thing, and I only have a year left, but I'm hoping after that it can still continue to grow and become something," Woods said.
According to the Alliance for Period Supplies, nationally, 2 in 5 women struggle to purchase period products because of a lack of income. In New York, 1 in 6 women and girls between the ages of 12-44 live below the federal poverty line.
"I think it comes back to helping those outside of our walls and taking care of one another. We're all human. We all need these things. And I think you just have to take it back to that basic level and that basic understanding," Woods said.
These bags, being donated to area shelters, where these products are needed most.
"A lot of women are eligible for SNAP, and SNAP doesn't cover things like period products and toiletries and things like that. And a lot of times pantries run out of these items. So there's always a frequent need," says shelter worker Christina Griffin.