Montgomery News

GAITHERSBURG, Md. The City of Gaithersburg’s Kentlands Mansion is hosting a collection drive for much-needed period supplies in support of Period Poverty Awareness Week, May 22 to 28. Items being collected include daytime and overnight pads, tampons, and panty liners. Donations can be dropped off at the Mansion, 320 Kent Square Road, Monday through Friday, May 22 to 26, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. All packages must be new and unopened and products must be individually wrapped.

Period Poverty Awareness Week was created by the Alliance for Period Supplies to educate and raise awareness on the issue of period poverty and its impact on people who menstruate. One in four people struggle to purchase period products due to lack of income and one in five report missing work, school or similar events due to lack of access to period supplies. The goal of this education is to encourage people to take steps to address this need in their own community.

“We’re proud to join in the fight against period poverty, which is largely a hidden problem even though nearly half of our population menstruates,” says Kristy King, Kentlands Mansion Community Facility Manager. “By hosting a supply drive, we are raising awareness and helping ensure everyone in our community has access to essential period products. We hope to be a part of ending the stigma and social pressure surrounding the discussion of menstruation.”

Donations will help support menstruators of the Gaithersburg Cares Hub, Betty Ann Krahnke Center, Montgomery County Public School’s Newcomers Program, Robertson Park Youth Center, and Olde Towne Youth Center.

Learn more about this initiative at www.allianceforperiodsupplies.org.

For more information about the supply drive, please call 301-258-6425. For media interviews, please contact Courtney.Davis@gaithersburgmd.gov.

Original source can be found here.