WWU’s Days for Girls Club Provides Menstrual Health Products to the WHOLE Pantry
Western Washington University’s Days for Girls Club and the Bellingham Chapter of Days for Girls, International, have partnered to provide WWU’s WHOLE Pantry with 50 “Supreme” menstrual health kits, menstrual cups, and disposable products for students who seek out the WHOLE Pantry’s services. These kits come just before students leave campus for the summer months, which often means losing access to products that can result in negative health risks.
While Washington State laws have made menstrual products often free in restrooms at schools, universities, or public places, students often struggle to get through the summer months without access to those spaces. Statistics show that those who can’t afford products often use them sparingly, which can have detrimental health effects. Putting health risks aside, menstrual products can be costly and often taxed at purchase, called a “tampon tax.” This can reduce or replace dependance on disposable menstrual products, which can cost up to $240/year depending on where one lives.
DFG’s “Supreme Kits” are designed with waterproof moisture barriers, are washable, and contain all the items one needs to get through a monthly cycle. The kits include shields, liners, carry pouches, a drawstring bag, and several other items, many of which have been patented by DFG. (DFG, International also provides instructions and some basic health and personal education when distributing kits.) The kit’s components have gone through dozens of design changes based on improvements suggested by users. Kits can last up to 7 years, depending on use and cleaning.
This project has been developed by WWU’s Days for Girls Club, which is supported by the Morse Leadership Institute by bringing together the student club members with the local sewists from the Bellingham, WA DFG Chapter for multiple meetings each quarter this academic year. Several of the “components” are cut and sewn by Chapter volunteers, while other parts of the kits (e.g., new underwear, washcloths, thread, and fabric) were donated by a group of local mothers who learned about the Club and Chapter’s work and organized a product drive.
The WWU DFG Club has assisted in sewing related tasks, built kits, and engaged in advocacy work about the importance of addressing menstrual health needs for the planet. The WWU DFG Club’s vision is a world where no one must worry about affording or having menstrual products, nor worrying about missing out on opportunities due to menstruation.
Morse Leadership Institute Director Dr. Karen Stout said, that, “This kind of ‘period poverty’ has a way of becoming a negative spiral of economic poverty that can be generational.”
The WWU Club’s mission this last year has been to establish a relationship with the Bellingham Chapter and bring more support to the Bellingham community by bridging the gap for those who cannot afford menstrual hygiene products.
Lauria Mills, a DFG club leader said, “We believe that everyone who needs menstrual products have equal access to them and not have to face the issues that come with decreased access. We believe that by supporting this aspect of health we can also support the overall wellbeing of the community and planet.” WWU’s DFG Club hopes to empower people to eliminate the stigmas around menstruation and the social challenges faced because of it.
As the WWU DFG Club and Bellingham DFG Chapter continue to expand their community efforts, they hope to provide access to DFG kits in places frequented by the Bellingham community, such as food banks, churches, schools, and shelters. If you or your organization are interested in connecting with the groups to help reduce period poverty, please email bellingham@daysforgirls.org or WWUClub@daysforgirls.org. WWU students interested in joining the DFG club are encouraged to email at WWUClub@daysforgirls.org.