For our May 2025 service project, the Rotary Club of Church Hill is partnering with a local nonprofit, Period Patch Inc., to host a menstrual hygiene supply drive and fundraising effort!
Throughout the month of May, you can drop off supplies at Luminary Hair Co. in Church Hill (402 N 25th St, Richmond, VA 23223), OR, you can donate directly to our club (Venmo: @churchhillrotary) – all donations from the month of May will be used to purchase supplies for donation.
Supplies to donate:
- Pads (various sizes)
- Panty Liners
- Tampons (various sizes)
- Feminine Wipes
- Menstrual Cups
Period Patch Inc. distributes menstrual products to community partners throughout Richmond and surrounding counties to help address a dire need in the community. Menstrual products are a basic necessity, yet they are not covered by SNAP benefits (i.e., food stamps). Lack of access to adequate menstrual supplies results in individuals missing school and work. Studies indicate that as many as 1 in 4 teens struggle with affording menstrual supplies. Period Patch Inc. is committed to trying to help our community by providing these products to food pantries, schools, health clinics, shelters and other non-profit organizations so that they can make them available to those they support.
Menstruation impact facts:
- Over one-third (38%) of low-income women report missing work, school or similar
events due to lack of access to period supplies - A 2021 study conducted by U by Kotex® revealed that two in five people have struggled
to purchase period products. Many of these women experience the indignity and shame
of being unable to care for themselves during their periods - 14.2 % of college menstruating people in the US had experienced period poverty in the
past year - Two-thirds of the 16.9 million low-income women in the US could not afford menstrual
products in the past year, with half of them needing to choose between menstrual
products and food - 1 in 5 teens in the US have struggled to afford period products
- 4 in 5 students in the US have either missed class time or know someone who missed
class time because they did not have access to period products - 61% have worn a tampon longer than 4 hours because they did not have access to
enough period products. (puts them at risk of infection and for Toxic Shock Syndrome) - 66% of girls do not want to be at school when they are on their period due to negative
association, shame, depression, and embarrassment - Girls and women missing class time/education and work has a negative impact on
society, which makes this a community issue - Individuals require an average of 6 period products per day, and period supplies are not
covered by safety net programs