Women’s Fund announces new initiative: Change the Cycle
Solving Period Poverty One Step at a Time
As part of the Women’s Fund’s philanthropic and educational initiatives, they have launched Change the Cycle, a concerted effort to solve Period Poverty, or the lack of access to affordable feminine hygiene products for women and teens. While Period Poverty is a national concern, its effects are seen right here in Lorain County. “Families struggling with food insecurity rarely have the funds to keep the family fed and even less to purchase hygiene supplies for women, especially for young, developing teens,” states Susan Bartosch, Director of External Affairs for Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio. “The pre-teen years are very crucial in all aspects of health including physical, mental, and social development.”
1 in 5
American girls miss school due to their period
nearly 50%
of low-income women have to choose between food and hygiene supplies
The group will first tackle the need for accessible, affordable supplies for the women of Lorain County. “The outcry received when we first shared our concern over Period Poverty at our annual SHEro event was louder than we ever expected,” states Elizabeth Bosela-Bullock, Change the Cycle chairperson and Treasurer for the Women’s Fund. “We felt compelled to do more and Change the Cycle was born.” The Women’s Fund received a grant from the UPS Foundation and will be partnering with local agencies and school districts to get feminine hygiene products into the hands of the women and girls who need it most. Secondly, the committee hopes to tackle the affordability of products for women and teens throughout the state including the ability to purchase products with SNAP benefits.
“Black and Latina women had the highest levels of period poverty in the last year and also immigrant and first-generation students also reported higher levels of period poverty.”
Dr. JHUMKA GUPTA, associate professor at George Mason University and senior author for BMC Women’s Health Study
The Women’s Fund encourages everyone, both men and women, to support this initiative by donating unopened boxes of tampons and pads to their favorite non-profit organization(s). Donations can be given to your organization of choice or to Community Foundation, who will arrange for distribution.
| Organization | Address |
| Avon/Avon Lake Community Resource Center | 33479 Lake Rd., Avon Lake |
| El Centro de Servicios Sociales | 2800 Pearl Ave., Lorain |
| Elyria YWCA | 318 West Ave., Elyria |
| Harrisson Cultural Center | 1922 Hamiliton Ave., Lorain |
| Lorain County Free Clinic | 5040 Oberlin Ave., Lorain |
| Lorain County Genesis House Safe Harbor | c/o Community Foundation 9080 Leavitt Rd., Elyria |
| Neighborhood Alliance | 424 Earl Court, Elyria |
| North Ridgeville Community Care | 34015 Center Ridge Rd., North Ridgeville |
| Oberlin Community Services | 285 South Professor St., Oberlin |
| Path & Green | Message them for more info |
| Second Harvest Food Bank | 5515 Baumhart Rd., Lorain |