A National Library of Medicine study found that almost two-thirds of students in their sample dealt with period product insecurity. In Hershey, these numbers are most likely similar. Having access to period products in school will help students focus on their studies instead of worrying about how they can afford necessary products.
As one of its main initiatives, Helping People, Period! provides period products to bathrooms across the school. The club draws a diverse group of students every week to restock these bins and work on other volunteer projects. Currently led by senior Naomi Tanjung and junior Bridget Hallinan, Helping People, Period! is always looking for a new way to address the needs of its community.
In May of 2024, Tanjung and Hallinan traveled to the Pennsylvania Governor’s Mansion with their advisor, Mrs. Emily Hoover, to participate in a round table discussion about how to implement menstrual equity in public schools. This discussion was led by Lori Shapiro, first lady of Pennsylvania, and overseen by Ruby Mundok and Moriah Hathaway, the executive directors for Governor Shapiro’s commission on youth and on women, respectively. After this discussion, Josh Shapiro changed the government’s budget to include $3 million to provide period products in schools.
Helping People, Period! has also collaborated with Cocoa Packs to provide menstrual and other hygiene products in their take-home bags every month.
Hallinan hopes the club’s efforts will also change attitudes in the school. “People don’t stop menstruating when school lets out for the week. Putting products out for everyone to use, on an honor system of taking what you need, creates an environment where students don’t have to go out of their way to get what they need and don’t have to feel embarrassed to take products home,” said Hallinan.
In the future, Helping People, Period! hopes to support infrastructure at the middle school to provide period products to younger students and to continue their partnership with similar organizations in the surrounding area.
“We aren’t done making progress,” said Hallinan. “There’s always another way to support our community, a more efficient way to get things done, or a new issue to address.”
School and Government Administrations should focus on providing products for students everywhere. With easy access to free period products, students can focus more on their education and less on the difficulties they will face without products while menstruating.
In addition, schools should provide products on an honor system so that everyone can access them. This will create a less stigmatized environment around menstruating. If students are comfortable taking products when needed, they can focus less on period modesty and more on their school work and extracurriculars.
If you’re a Hershey High student interested in joining Helping People, Period!, you can join their Remind for meeting updates @hhshpp25 or follow their Instagram @helping_people_period. Meetings are every Wednesday after school in Mrs. Hoover’s room, alternating between bin restocks and more extensive presentations.
