Helping Women Period Applauds Lansing Mayor Andy Schor for Designating May 22-28 as Period Poverty Awareness Week and urges the Greater Lansing community to use this newly minted awareness week as inspiration to spur involvement in the fight to end period poverty.
“Helping Women Period started here in Lansing eight years ago, so it’s especially meaningful to our
nonprofit to see this proclamation in action — it’s a sign of how far we have come together as a
community,” Helping Women Period Executive Director and Co-Founder Lysne Tait said. “While period
poverty is a year-round challenge, we are thrilled to have a designated, springtime awareness week to
drive even more attention to the need for resources and resolution to this very solvable problem.”
Period poverty is a lack of access to menstrual products, hygiene facilities, waste management, and
menstrual education, affecting 12 million menstruators in the U.S. With limited access to these products,
20% of menstruators have used items such as toilet paper, socks or newspaper in place of period
products.
The proclamation states in part: “Period poverty is a public health issue. Addressing period poverty can
lead to improved health for women and menstruators, ensuring that all people have access to the basic
period necessities to thrive.” Schor also lauds Helping Women Period on the proclamation, noting: “I
congratulate Helping Women Period on the life changing resources they provide…”
“Anyone interested in supporting Helping Women Period can visit our website and help make a difference
by donating products, volunteering, or making a monetary donation,” Tait said. “A donation of just $40 can
provide products to a menstruator for an entire year.”
In addition to offering donations or volunteer time, individuals can also get involved in Period Poverty
Awareness Week by educating themselves and others about Period Poverty.
