Western Pennsylvania Diaper Bank Supports Period Poverty Awareness Week

PITTSBURGH, PA, May 18, 2023 (PittsburghNewsWire.com) — Western Pennsylvania Diaper Bank (WPADB) is raising awareness and funds focusing on Period Poverty in Western Pennsylvania and across the United States. Period Poverty Awareness Week is May 23 – 29, 2023.

 

In 2021 WPADB received proclamations from Councilman Burgess with the City of Pittsburgh and Tom Baker with Allegheny County, acknowledging the work the Diaper Bank has done in advocating for menstruators and proclaiming Period Poverty Awareness Week every fourth week in May. Period poverty is defined as a lack of access to menstrual products, sanitation facilities, and adequate education. Period poverty means using toilet paper, fast food napkins, socks, and old clothing, paper towels from public restrooms, using the same tampon or pad for too long, and/or staying home because of inability to pay for or access sufficient products. WPADB is a member of the Alliance for Period Supplies, a national organization working to ensure individuals in need have access to essential period products required to participate fully in daily life. Nationwide, two in five people struggle to pay for period products. One in four teens miss class due to lack of period supplies.

 

Data collected by the Alliance for Period Supplies shows that in the state of Pennsylvania, one in seven women and girls between the ages of 12 and 44 live below the Federal Poverty Line. There are 120+ Allied Programs across the United States, working on eliminating period poverty, many of which are diaper banks like Western Pennsylvania Diaper Bank.

 

“Every day, people are forced to choose between buying period supplies or other basic necessities,” Cathy Battle, Executive Director of WPADB, stated. “Period supplies are not covered by any form of government assistance and are taxed in twenty-six states. WPADB Period Project was created with the belief that period supplies are a basic human right for anyone who menstruates. The Period Project aims at empowering youth and young adults to advocate for themselves and others. We are de-stigmatizing periods, encouraging self-care, and creating spaces for acceptance and resilience.”

 

The Period Advocacy Project partners with MAYA and Ruth’s Way to teach classes with funding from the AEO Foundation. Western Pennsylvania Diaper Bank works with over twenty community partners and local schools to distribute period products including Hugh Lane Wellness Foundation, Latino Community Center, Oliver Academy, Brashear High School, Perry High School, and Westinghouse High School. Those interested in partnerships or making donations can visit https://secure.givelively.org/donate/western-pennsylvania-diaper-bank/period-poverty-awareness-week for details on all options and more information on period poverty statistics.

 

The Western Pennsylvania Diaper Bank is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. They are an affiliate of the Alliance for Period Supplies (https://allianceforperiodsupplies.org/) since 2018. Learn more about Western Pennsylvania Diaper Bank at https://www.wpadiaperbank.org/.