MOUNT WASHINGTON, Ky. – Period poverty is when women lack access to feminine hygiene products during a menstrual cycle because of cost. On Saturday, October 19, rallies are expected to take place across the United States, including Kentucky, for the world’s first National Period Day. The event is organized by an Oregon-based organization called Period, Inc. The purpose is to address period poverty. However, Bullitt County resident, Laverne Reyes, has already started the conversation through action.

The nursing student assembles period kits and donates them to nearby schools. She initially gave the kits to her step-daughter’s elementary school, but when she found out there was a greater need in the community, she posted on Facebook.

“When I first started I bought everything out of pocket so I just asked for the bags, and, surprisingly, people had a really great response and started helping out with supplies also. So, that was very, very helpful,” Reyes said.

Since her first delivery in early September, Laverne said she has dropped off an estimated 180 period kits to 10 schools, ranging from elementary to high school.

 “There's this girl that reached out to me personally [to] see if she can get some for her sisters because her sisters are in high school. Their dad was disabled. So it would certainly help them a lot,” Reyes said.

Lack of access to feminine hygiene products isn’t just an issue in Bullitt County. Democrat State Rep. Attica Scott of Louisville pre-filed a bill, BR 107, for the 2020 regular session that would exempt feminine hygiene products from being taxed, also known as a pink tax, to make the products more affordable.

“The bill was brought to me by young people,” Rep. Scott told Spectrum News 1 in a phone interview. “And it's important to us that we listen to our constituents. That we're listening to young people. That we're listening to people who are most directly impacted by an issue.”

If you’re interested to donate supplies to help Reyes assemble the period kits, she has an Amazon wishlist or join her Facebook group for updates and to learn more.