NEW NON-PROFIT PROVIDES MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS TO PEOPLE IN NEED ON CAPE ANN
Product Donation Drive August 12, 2017, at Stop & Shop in Gloucester
A new organization, Period Partners, has been established to provide menstrual products to people who need them on Cape Ann.
Access to menstrual hygiene products is a basic survival need, but tampons and pads are not covered by WIC or food stamps. Those living in poverty often make do without. This affects people’s health and can cause them to miss work, school or appointments, making it hard to escape the cycle of poverty.
Period Partners was formed to change this, working in partnership with The Open Door. The Open Door will serve as Period Partners’ fiscal sponsor (which means donations will be fully tax-deductible under TOD’s 501(c)3). Period Partners care packages will be distributed through The Open Door’s food pantries as well.
26-YEAR-OLD FOUNDER
Period Partners was founded by 26-year-old Gloucester resident Lucy Gross when she became aware how seldom menstrual products are donated to homeless shelters and other social agencies. “Because it’s something we rarely talk about, people just don’t think to donate these essential items,” she said.
“I believe that everyone has the right to a healthy period,” said Gross, a fourth-generation Gloucester resident whose grandfather, Dr. Robert Lundberg, and grandmother, Renee Gross Nutbrown, both served the Gloucester health community. “No one should be held back because of this basic need.”
“The Open Door is pleased to work with Period Partners to meet this critical need,” said Julie LaFontaine, executive director of The Open Door. “It is a natural collaboration that will benefit this community.”
PRODUCT DRIVE AUGUST 12
Period Partners will provide clients of The Open Door with a year’s supply of tampons and pads. To kick off its fund-raising efforts, the group will hold a product drive at Stop & Shop, 6 Thatcher Rd. in Gloucester, on Saturday, August 12, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Can’t make it to the drive? You can make a tax-deductible donation at https://theopendoor.givecorps.com/ – write “for Period Partners” in the note field. Or email goperiodpartners@gmail.comfor more info.
About Period Partners: Period Partners was founded in November 2016 to provide menstrual products to people in need on Cape Ann. It operates in collaboration with local organizations and members of the community. For more information visit facebook.com/periodpartners
About The Open Door: Founded in 1978, The Open Door’s mission is to alleviate the impact of hunger in the community by connecting people to good food, advocating on behalf of those in need, and engaging others in the work of building food security. Programs include two Food Pantries, Community Meals, Mobile Markets, Summer Meals, Senior Soup and Salad, and more. For more information visit http://www.foodpantry.org
For more information, please contact Abbie Lundberg at:
Craig Kimberley Photo
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