This week is known as “Period Poverty Week,” a time that puts a spotlight on the issue of affordability for necessary products.
Many organizations in North Carolina are working to get supplies to those who need it, and the Women’s Fund of the Blue Ridge is one of those organizations.
It has set up several drop-off points in Watauga County to help get the supplies. The organization’s main goal is to get as many supplies as needed to the schools to ensure students have what they need to get through the year.
Rebecca Moore volunteers with the Women’s Fund of the Blue Ridge. She and Board Chair Patti Jupiter have been spending time going through donations for their upcoming fundraiser. The fundraiser helps them to get money to give out to nonprofits in Ashe, Avery and Watauga counties to help women and children become empowered.
“Appalachia still contains a lot of people that are marginalized, that can’t afford a lot of things,” Jupiter said.
Recently, Moore realized there was another need in the community. She found a need for period supplies.
“One in four low-income women miss days at work or are in need of help with period supplies. One in five students miss class two or three days a month,” Moore said.
The statistics are drastic, she says, and she felt the group should participate in Period Poverty Week, a week where many organizations bring awareness to the difficulty many have getting supplies.
“They can’t go to work. They can’t participate in sports,” Moore said.
They already donated enough supplies to Watauga County schools for students who need them to take home a three-month supply for the summer.
“Since February, when we first started until Monday of this week, we have donated to the schools 3,082 pads and 5,730 tampons,” Moore said.
They need much more because the need is not going to stop any time soon.
“Ultra thin pads, any brand, and then regular and multiple size tampons with plastic applicators please,” Moore said.
They have set up drop-off points in Watauga County. They have one at Rumple Memorial Presbyterian Church in Blowing Rock.