Jewish Federation aims to tackle 'period poverty' with 25,000 donations in North Jersey

More than one in three people who menstruate missed work, school or an appointment last year due to a lack of access to period products, a statistic that one local nonprofit aims to eliminate.

The Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey kicked off a “Period Poverty” initiative in October to raise awareness about the chronic shortages some face, and to distribute products to middle and high school students in the area.

The project will culminate this month with a goal of providing 25,000 menstrual products to those in need across Bergen, Passaic and Hudson counties.

“When I learned about period poverty, I was taken aback that it was happening in our area,” said Lindsey Lax, who is chairing the effort. “I wanted to take meaningful action. I am proud to team up with the federation to raise awareness and give people the opportunity to help and make a difference on this critical issue.”

The nonprofit plans to distribute supplies to school districts. Almost 30 community groups throughout the counties will also receive help, including food pantries, the Boys & Girls Club of Paterson and two domestic violence shelters: the Center for Hope and Safety in Rochelle Park and Never Alone Again in Teaneck.

Jersey City identified 14,000 students who could use the menstrual products, said Shara Nadler, director of the federation’s volunteer center. The Hoboken and Fair Lawn school districts will also be recipients. Saint Paul's Community Development Corp. in Paterson will distribute products to schools in its community as well.

“We really want to rise to that challenge with the largest cities in our area,” said Nadler.

In a 2021 survey conducted by pollster YouGuv and period-products maker U by Kotex, 38% of respondents said they missed events due to a lack of access. More than two in five said they'd struggled to purchase products due to lack of income at some point in their life, a 35% increase from 2018.

The federation decided to focus on the issue after conversations with state Assemblywoman Lisa Swain, a Fair Lawn Democrat. She'd heard from teenagers in her district who listed access to menstrual products as one of their biggest challenges.

Some said they miss school a few days a month and sometimes can't attend afterschool sports, said Nadler.

Legislation seeks 'menstrual equity'

After hearing about the experience of young, low-income people who couldn't find the items they needed, Swain has worked on and sponsored "menstrual equity" bills in the state Legislature. One would provide $200,000 to food pantries chosen by the state Department of Agriculture; each pantry would get up to $10,000 in grants to purchase menstrual hygiene products.

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When such items are delivered to food banks today, they are “snapped up right away,” Swain said.

Another bill would require the state to buy menstrual products in bulk, allowing schools, nonprofits and other entities to benefit from joint purchasing arrangements. A third proposal would allow federal aid programs administered by the state, such as Medicaid, SNAP and WIC, to pay for period products.

“It’s an equity issue,” said Swain, who added that winning approval for the legislation will be one of her goals in the coming year. “If men needed period products, they would be widely available and free. Especially with the overturning of Roe vs. Wade and access to reproductive health being set back, we really need to make sure that we take care of all sorts of reproductive health care. Taking care of hygiene products is part of reproductive health.”

Assemblywoman Shanique Speight, an Essex County Democrat, has also taken up the cause. In a video released by the Jewish Federation, she recalled her own family’s plight after a fire left them homeless.

“I remember my mother struggling to buy sanitary products for herself,” said Speight.

On Monday, the state Senate's Budget Committee adanced another bill that would have the New Jersey Department of Education reimburse school districts for providing menstrual products in certain schools. The Senate estimates the effort would cost up to $3.5 million in the first year, with an additional cost of $1.5 million to $3 million thereafter.

“This is a huge step because the last leg of it is really just getting it through the Assembly,” said Alama Burman, director of the Jewish Federation's Community Relations Committee. “We’ll throw our weight behind it since we’re halfway there.”

The legislative proposals would help, but the federation wanted to do its own part, said Nadler. With money raised by volunteers, the group was able to purchase product dispensers for school nurses’ bathrooms in Fair Lawn.

The federation has also partnered with UNITS, which provided a portable storage unit in the group's parking lot to hold products. Apparel company Bombas donated underwear that the federation will provide to school nurses to hand out to students.

The group is also working with food pantries to relieve one source of stress for their clients, Nadler said.

Red Parties to raise awareness

“If the students are without the products, most likely the mothers and the aunts are also without them,” she said. “They might say ‘this month I’m covered, but what about next month? Am I going to miss work next month?’"

As part of the initiative, community members have been hosting “Red Parties” to collect donations and spread word about the issue. These parties, held with family, friends and neighbors and red decorations and snacks, typically bring in from 20 to 40 boxes of supplies to help the cause.

“This is really under the radar,” said Nadler. “Most people think, ‘that can’t be happening in Bergen County,’ but it is happening in Bergen County.”

Although the federal SNAP program supplements the food budget of needy Americans, it doesn't currently cover period products, said Nadler. When menstruation begins, people may turn to less sanitary options, she said.

“Women are using really unacceptable means to manage their period from T-shirts, socks to paper towels,” said Nadler. “Most people don’t even think of this as an issue and that was really one of our goals with the Red Party.”

Even if someone doesn’t hold a party, smaller decisions can make a difference, organizers of the Period Poverty initiative added. Those buying their own supply for the month can pick up an extra box of menstrual products to drop off at a local pantry , Nadler suggested.

For those who wish to host a Red Party, more information can be found at https://jfnnj.org/period.

Stephanie Noda is a local reporter for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: noda@northjersey.com

Twitter: @snoda11

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: North Jersey period poverty initiative backed by Jewish Federation