APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The mayor of Appleton is shining a spotlight on menstrual health equity and the importance of making sure everyone has access to period products.
Jake Woodford issued a proclamation Monday in recognition of Menstrual Health Awareness Month and Period Poverty Awareness Week.
“Access to menstrual health products is essential to the dignity, health and well-being of the kids in our community,” Woodford said, in part, in a news release. “We recognize the importance of organizations like The Monthlies Project that are working to remove barriers and support young people by ensuring they have access to the basic necessities needed to thrive.”
According to officials, period poverty affects thousands of youth across Northeast Wisconsin, limiting their ability to attend school, participate in activities and feel confident in their daily lives. Research shows that nationwide, nearly one in four students in the United States struggle to afford period products, 39% of teens report being unable to do their best schoolwork due to lack of access to menstrual supplies and nearly six in 10 teens said they are personally affected by the stigma and negative associations surrounding menstruation.
That’s where organizations like The Monthlies Project come in. Formed in 2021 by a group of women in the Fox Cities, the nonprofit aims to raise awareness about period poverty and provide menstrual products to youth in need.
This year, The Monthlies Project once again mobilized volunteers to fill 2,000 backpacks with tampons, pads, panty liners and other essential menstrual health supplies for young menstruators across the region. The backpacks are distributed at the end of the school year to ensure students have free access to products throughout the summer.
“Period poverty is not just a hygiene issue. It’s a barrier to health and education,” said Liz Wollenberg, co-founder of The Monthlies Project, in the release. “This proclamation helps bring visibility to a challenge that too many young people quietly navigate every day.”
We’re grateful to see our community continuing to step forward with compassion and action to ensure young menstruators across Northeast Wisconsin have access to the essential products they need with dignity.
The issue of period poverty remains especially relevant in Wisconsin, which is among the states that still applies sales tax to menstrual products.
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