Voices United and SheSupply making a difference in the lives of women (photo by Vicki Baker)
Vicki Baker
When we think of poverty, lacking money for food, water, clothing, and shelter quickly comes to mind. However, poverty is much more than just not having enough money. It’s not having medical care when sick, not having access to schools for an education, not having a job to secure a future.
It’s also not having readily available and affordable clean feminine hygiene products. It’s called “period poverty” and, like other forms of poverty, it can be debilitating and paralyzing. Did you know that 161,000 female households in North Texas currently live in poverty and 2,400 women are homeless? That 25 percent of women struggled to purchase period products last year due to lack of income? That in most states, including Texas, feminine hygiene products are taxed as luxury items? That these necessary supplies are not covered by government assistance programs like SNAP or WIC?
SheSupply, the guest presenter at Voices United’s May luncheon, is on a mission to provide a sense of dignity and cleanliness to these women in need. They believe no student should have to miss school, no adult should have to miss work, and no person should have to miss out on daily life because they are unable to afford the basic necessities they require.
To date, SheSupply has distributed over one million free products to their nonprofit community partners, food pantries, churches, homeless centers, and domestic violence shelters to fill the gap where other resources are lacking. To help “Fill the Box,” Voices United hosted its annual drive, collecting hundreds of feminine hygiene products (and nearly $1,000 in cash donations) in its commitment to help provide the most basic female necessities to women in the North Texas area.
Voices United is aware of the challenges women in poverty and those left homeless face. It’s high time period poverty becomes everybody’s business. Join SheSupply and Voices United in donating needed items and raising awareness about the lack of available and inexpensive hygiene products so women can maintain a healthy well-being. Visit shesupply.org.
Women’s issues are community issues. If you’re interested in joining a group of Robson Ranch women who share progressive values, perform community outreach, provide civic awareness, and enjoy a good time, visit Voices United on the first Saturday of the month at 11:30 a.m. in the clubhouse. For more information, visit www.voicesunitedrr.org.