Write a commentThe Zonta Club of Oswego recently donated nearly 4,000 period products to local schools.
The donation was a combination of contributions from the club and items collected during a February drive at local pharmacies and dollar stores.
"Many girls in our county experience period poverty," says Inga Back, co-chair of Zonta's product collection committee. "When they don't have menstrual supplies, they skip school, work, and other activities that are essential for their future."
New York State requires schools to provide menstrual products to students. But these supplies are limited. The items Zonta donated are intended to augment school supplies and provide coverage when girls are not in school.
Worldwide, an estimated 500 million women experience period poverty. The problem isn't only an issue for developing countries. A 2021 survey by U by Kotex® found that more than 40% of American women struggle to buy menstrual supplies at some point in their lives. Black, Latina, and low-income women are most affected.
Period poverty also includes a lack of menstruation education. According to the 2021 State of the Period survey by Thinx & PERIOD, three-quarters of students feel that they are taught more about the biology of frogs than the human female body in school. Two-thirds also think that too many girls miss out on valuable school time because they don't have the period products they need.
Zonta's collection drive in February was carried out at the four Kinney Drugs Stores in Oswego County, Wayne Drugs in Oswego, and several dollar stores. Zonta also partnered with Erin's Angels of CNY, an organization that works with schools across the region to decrease the burden of hunger. "Erin's Angels has established connections to the nine school districts in the county and helped us distribute the items," Back says.
"Local students have many roadblocks in their path to education, including food insecurity and access to period supplies," says Sheila Dion, founder and director of Erin's Angels of CNY. "It's great to have nonprofit organizations working together to efficiently reduce some of these barriers."
As part of Zonta International, the Zonta Club of Oswego envisions a world where women's rights are human rights, no woman lives in fear of violence, and every woman is able to achieve her full potential.
"Our product collection committee is a new initiative aimed at helping girls and women reach their educational and professional goals," Back says. "We're doing that by distributing period and hygiene supplies to those in need and connecting women entering the workforce with professional clothing. Our group also offers several annual scholarships and supports local organizations that assist survivors of domestic violence."
To learn more about the Zonta Club of Oswego and how to support their work, look for them on Facebook and Instagram.
