Yes, you read the title correctly. This article will be talking about menstrual hygiene, but don't let this scare you away! There is a pressing issue that most people don't think about.
Ladies, we all know that dreaded time of the month when Aunt Flow or Uncle Tom (time of the month) come to town and the "red river" is flowing. It is a stressful, emotional and crave-infested time, but also painful. Anyway, since we have all been through this time, we all know how expensive hygiene products can be. Imagine when you've been caught off guard by Aunt Flow and have no resources with you. It is a terrible time, but imagine if this happened to you every month. Not because you were unprepared, but simply because you did not have the resources available to you. Hygiene products are expensive and not a top priority when you have food and shelter to worry about. This is a very real struggle for the homeless community and often times, shelters don't have the supplies either.
This issues doesn't only have to apply to ladies because men, let's be honest, you have been impacted by this time of the month as well. You know how awful it is for your mom/ girlfriend/ sister/ niece and why would you want to see any other women struggle through this more than necessary?
So, here are the facts:
On average, about 240 tampons per user are used in one year.
This estimates over $120
Poor hygiene practices can lead to infection
Toxic Shock Syndrome can occur
On average, menstruation will take up 3,000 days combined over a lifetime.
Now, given the facts, think about how much of a luxury it is to have access to hygiene products and how lucky we are to be able to afford them. Be aware! Menstrual hygiene for the homeless is a real struggle and there is so much that can be done about it! Donating products; such as pads, tampons or DivaCups to local shelters is simple, easy and impactful! You truly will understand the difference you are making in a woman's life when you hand in your donations. Men, if you are still reading this, please do not be discouraged! Monetary donations, spreading the word and simply being aware goes a long way!
