Hoboken Resident Raises Awareness of Period Poverty

Period poverty is the lack of access to sanitary products, menstrual hygiene education, toilets, hand washing facilities, and, or, waste management. Worldwide, more than 800 million people menstruate daily and the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the public health crisis. Many people have lost access to the product and hygiene facilities they once relied upon, including those residing in Hudson County.

Hoboken Girl and The Flow Initiative Foundation have launched an initiative to help women get access to the period products they need locally through a period product drive. From October 10 through October 30 local residents are called upon to donate menstrual products to designated drop-off bins across Hoboken and Jersey City. You can find a bin closest to you at the link here.

One of those residents is Sabrina Browne, a Public Relations Executive and a Leadership Advisory Board Member for the Girl Scouts of Greater New York. Browne, is an advocate of Hoboken Girl initiatives, and a community champion who frequently supports clothing drives, soup kitchens and the homeless shelter.

To raise awareness of the period product drive, Browne held a digital fundraiser across her personal and professional network to garner donations. She called upon co-workers, friends and family members to donate to make a meaningful impact. In 48 hours, Browne successfully secured enough donations to purchase more than 1,000 tampons and 1,000 pads + panty liners for the community. To be exact, Browne purchased 1,104 tampons, 644 pads and 600 panty liners for the period product drive.

“When I first moved to Hoboken four years ago, I would have never imagined that period poverty was an issue in Hudson County. Today, the inadequate access to menstrual products has emerged as a health crisis nationwide,” said Browne. “As a women and girls advocate, I am deeply committed to ensuring a safe and equitable future in the communities where I work and live. This drive is another opportunity for me to give back and make an impact at a critical time in our country.”

About one in four people between 13 to 35 have reported that they have found it harder to manage their periods since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a survey done by WASH United, World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS), and UNICEF. According to this same survey, 47% of people who menstruate have found it more difficult to access menstrual supplies since the pandemic, says Ina Jurga, international coordinator for the Global Menstrual Hygiene Day.

“I hope through the period product drive that we can begin to normalize conversations around menstrual health, and erase the stigma and shame so frequently associated with this topic,” said Browne. “Women and girls are menstruating and grappling with significant health challenges during the coronavirus pandemic. Access to menstrual health products can make a profound impact in a girl’s life.”

To get involved in the period product drive, please visit the Hoboken Girl website here.