The River Region United Way partnered with International Paper’s Prattville Mill this week to pack 375 feminine hygiene kits to help reduce period poverty.
RRUW and International Paper donated the kits to the Montgomery-based Women in Training, Inc. Each kit includes one pack of Always Maxi Pads, one pack of Always Liners, five PureTouch feminine wipes, and an encouraging note from the event volunteers.
WIT is a local nonprofit founded by twin sisters Brooke and Breanna Bennett. WIT's signature program is the WITKITS Campaign to help alleviate period poverty among the 25% of American young women who skip school or miss work because they cannot afford menstrual products. Over the last year, WIT has provided more than 6,000 kits.
“River Region United Way is pleased to partner with International Paper to support the young women leading Women-in-Training,” said Ron Simmons, the president and CEO of the River Region United Way. “Period Poverty is one of many reasons why students in the area miss school each month. I applaud Brooke and Breanna Bennett for recognizing this need and creating the infrastructure to support their peers each month.”
October is National Period Poverty Awareness Month. Two-in-three low-income women across the country cannot afford the period products they need. One-in-five girls miss school because they do not have access to feminine hygiene products.
“International Paper and the RRUW have joined forces for over a decade to help the River Region thrive,” Simmons continued. “Whether it is helping to create feminine hygiene kits or setting the pace for our industrial partners during our annual campaign, International Paper continues to prove that it is a reliable community partner.”