Giveaway Targets ​“Period Poverty”

The National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) worked with the Heavenly Hands Food Pantry on Edgewood Avenue Saturday to give away 150 bags of sanitary supplies to combat ​“period poverty.”

Fifteen people showed up at a feminine products station the groups set up outside the Dwight policing substation to be provided packages of Jewel premium panty liners and a box of Summer’s Eve cleansing wipes.

“I think that this is very good for the community. This is something that we need. It’s something new and it’s something different,” said Rosa Mccoter, overseer of Upon This Rock Ministries, which operates Heavenly Hands Food Pantry

NCNW received a $15,000 grant from the Yale Community Fund in light of the coronavirus pandemic. New Haven NCNW President Dorthula ​“Dottie” Green partnered with Jeanette Sykes, leader of The Perfect Blend, and Sharon Lomax, ambassador of Jewel Sanitary Napkins, to educate and supply women who can’t afford menstrual hygienic products.

“Every woman has a period,” Green said. ​“Throughout the pandemic, when it comes to women thinking about needs, if they have children, they’re going to think about food first. Women will do whatever else, if it’s toilet paper, rags, or whatever to manage their period. They’ll do that because they want their kids to be fed. We believe it’s important to supply these women with the proper materials that are quality supplies to use for their periods.”

“I think the giveaway is very good. I work for the Board of Education with mostly high school students [at Hillhouse], and many times, it’s young ladies walking around looking to find sanitary napkins of any type,” said one participant. ​“They’re not accessible and not in the bathrooms. They have to go ask teachers and other people. I think it’s good to educate them about what types of products to use to take better care of themselves.”

NCNW purchased a total of 2,000 Jewel pads distributed by Lomax. This is expected to meet the needs of 300 – 400 women. Lomax had assembled an individual table to demonstrate and educate participants on the importance of quality period sanitary products. She said that financially stricken women are deprived of safe menstrual cycles.

“People don’t know that a majority of period products are made out of recycled trash out of the landfill. It goes through an eight-step bleaching process to make them white and look like cotton and pure,” Lomax said. ​“Unfortunately the residue from that process is dioxin which is a carcinogen and can remain in the body from seven to 11 years.”

Lomax told Cassandra Waller (pictured) that she was being given sanitary products of quality that would not only provide additional absorbency padding from menstrual flow but restrict chemical dyes that cause toxic shock syndrome, and other hormone irregularities.

Waller, who lives on Elm Street, is currently unemployed as well.

“A lot of times we just take anything,” Waller said. ​“It’s been hard to afford toiletries. People who know me and my situation have helped me out. Anything that’s free will help, but it depends on if it’s going to cause you more harm or not. I’m glad that I came because that’s knowledge I can pass on to my kids and grandkids.”

Lomax said that Jewel Sanitary Napkins can be purchased locally at Elm City Wellness or online.

“We also have a women’s campaign called ​‘Justice For My Jewel’ where we educate women and girls on the harmful effects the current sanitary napkins and tampons are having on their bodies,” Lomax said.

Kendricks Rogers of Kensington Street listened to Lomax describe the negative impacts of tampon use, including bacteria overgrowth in the bloodstream, commonly known as toxic shock syndrome.

“I’m going to make sure to tell everybody that I can about this,” Rogers said. ​“Being educated on this is a big help itself. This is a beautiful thing. The pandemic is traumatizing for everyone, but we just take one thing at a time.”

Annie Hardy said she was diagnosed with endometriosis at 13 years old.

“It causes ovarian cysts, severe abdominal pain, and you bleed heavy,” Hardy said. ​“So this Jewel Pad will work for me.”

Hardy said before the coronavirus hit she worked serving school cafeteria lunches. Now she doesn’t have an income.

“You know that those female products be costing. Can I get an extra bag?,” Hardy asked, playfully.

She proceeded by grabbing a bag for herself beaming with a wide smile of gratitude.

Church and pantry volunteer Jessica Earl pointed out that Carla Cordero (pictured) is a regular of the program along with her family.

“This is helpful for me because I don’t feel singled out or shy,” Carla Cordero ​“I’m not the only person who is grabbing the products.”

Sykes (pictured above) said that the pandemic was a wake up call for community organizations.

“The biggest thing for our community was the food insecurity so we figured this would be the best time to distribute these products right now when people are really in need,” Sykes said. ​“They are in need because if there’s a cheap product on the market and they need food, they’re going to go with the cheap product and we want them to be able to get the healthier products.”