Ohio Wesleyan University prides itself on service learning and community outreach. If students are still determining a project they are interested in setting up and running there is an abundance of projects that they can donate to or be involved in.
Junior pre-law and politics and government student, Leyna Kirsh, is currently doing their house project with the Period Pantry of Columbus. Kirsh lives in the Service Engagement and Leadership Small Living Unit where students are expected to do these types of service projects for the community.
Kirsh wants to encourage students and the local community to support this service learning project and wants to be clear that while donations are great, there are other ways to make a difference.
“Accepted donations include opened or unopened boxes of pads and tampons and new menstrual discs, cups, and underwear. Other ways to get involved include having open discussions about menstruation and doing research on the ways in which period poverty impacts the people in your community.”
The students living in this small living unit do get to choose the charity or group they will choose to work with for their service project. Kirsh explained why they were particularly drawn to the Period Pantry.
“As a menstruator myself, I am very aware of the financial burden menstruation places on people. Though Ohio made strides in 2020 by eliminating sales tax on menstrual hygiene products, the prices of the products themselves are still unattainable for many.” Kirsh added “Periods are inevitable, so why should access to hygiene products present such a burden for so many? When given the opportunity to create my own service project, I knew that period poverty was something I wanted to tackle.”
Kirsh concluded by encouraging anyone with questions to reach out and ask. Saying that not talking about prevalent issues and occurrences in daily life just creates more problems.
“If anyone has any questions on the topic, I am more than happy to talk! After all, the way to break the stigma is through open dialogue.”
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