Homelessness and poverty are difficult states to live in despite gender. Homeless people face unique challenges including access to menstrual hygiene products. Anyone who has ever had a period knows that a box of tampons or pads is expensive even before tax. In an effort to help homeless women in D.C., last Thursday Her Campus American partnered with passionate health promotion students to fundraise and support homeless people who menstruate around D.C. HC AU set up a table outside of Terrace Dining Room to collect donations and feminine hygiene products.
Contributions will be donated to Thrive DC, an organization whose mission is to end homelessness in Washington, D.C. They work with over 2,000 men and women each year, acting as a support network for those experiencing homelessness, unemployment, housing instability, and food insecurity. Thrive DC has been running a program since 1979 where it reserves spots in in their dinner programs for women and their dependents as they “often face the greatest challenges in the face of homelessness and poverty.” Her Campus American is happy to donate $40 that was raised along with the menstual hygiene products that were collected.
If you’re interested in donating and supporting the effort to provide homeless people with menstual hygiene products, you can donate to the cause here.
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Photo Credits: 1
2,3: Belong to Shannon Exley