UPDATE 7-14-20: We restocked the original 6 pantries! Our next project is to supply Family and Women's shelters in Long Island City with Menstrual Products. After these shelters are stocked, we'll be stocking another 6 pantries. 

UPDATE: Thank you all so much for donating money and Menstrual products! We were able to fully stock 6 pantries, and they were so happy they asked us to do it again. I'm raising the goal for this fundraiser to $2600 so we can keep giving these pantries more Menstrual products. Keep sharing with your friends and families!

My name is Jamie. I am a 15 year old freshman at Brooklyn Technical High school. I started this go fund me page because I’m collecting funds for a cause that I think is extremely important. It’s the epidemic of period poverty. My brother recently partnered up with a pantry  to help distribute food items and I realized they didn't have menstrual products to give out to young girls or women that were in line waiting for food in my community.

Pantries are spread all through the cities and states of this country. It’s truly an amazing thing because they help those in need by providing food, water, and essentials. The problem is these pantries do not provide for the needs of young girls or women during menstruation.

New York's population is 51.5% female, yet these pantries do not provide menstrual products that are essential items for half of our population. Counter to what we believe as girls and women these products are taxed as luxury items leaving many of the girls and women of our community unable to afford them. So that’s why I want to help by giving these girls and women the products they need and are at time embarrassed to ask for. I want to give back to the women and girls in my community and this is how I want to support them. I hope you can help me do that.

A survey published in 2019 found that 64% of girls and women interviewed had been unable to afford period products during the previous year. These were girls and women from low-income areas in St Louis, Missouri. Almost half had times during the previous year when they had to choose between food and period products. (SOURCE: bit.ly/2TEo2Rl Obstetrics & Gynecology, online January 10, 2019.) 

Sanitary pads and tampons are a basic necessity and yet this same story is happening across America. The cost of these products are making them inaccessible for many families who are already struggling financially. Girls and women have to make very difficult choices in order to afford other basic necessities. These items are not covered by government grocery-assistance programs such as WIC or SNAP and in some states they are taxed to make them even less affordable. During this time when even more families are in need of assistance girls and women will be under even more pressure to be able to afford these essential products.

Please help by supporting Jamie's cause.

May 28th is Menstrual Hygiene Day, and that's why I'm launching this fundraiser today. Help me do my part to end period poverty. 

You can support my efforts by donating here, or by sending donations directly by Venmo (@conniealt1), or Zelle (347-777-0841 or [e-mail geredigeerd]) or by donating products. All funds will be directly used to buy products to supply 5 pantries in our own community.

We need your assistance .