The biggest lesson our parents taught us growing up is to give back to others. We've learned that making the work fun and inviting our friends along make it that much more special. 

So welcome to our fun, friend-filled campaign to end period poverty!

It's almost a decade since we started GHGP and joined a growing movement to create Menstrual Equity. We have seen that our talking openly with friends, in schools and in the media has helped others feel confident doing the same. We work hard to call attention to the fact that too many students (one in four who menstruate) misses school regularly simply because they can not afford what they need to manage their periods. That means we must:

• Ensure there is easy access to period products, just like there is easy access to toilet paper (so that EVERYONE can manage their own bodies)
• Stop talking about managing periods as if it is a matter of personal responsibility (which you would never say about anything else we do in the bathroom)
• Educate young people on what periods are and how to manage them safely. (No, school reproductive health classes do not do this and many cultures perpetuate period stigma by not speaking about it.)

When we started our work we focused our efforts on collecting and distributing pads and tampons to those in need. (It was, and still is, the Band-Aid approach.)

Now, our advocacy efforts include speaking to community leaders, business owners and lawmakers to create systemic change through policy and laws. In August, the governor of our state of New Jersey signed into a law a measure that will guarantee students will find free period products in their school bathrooms beginning next year.  It is a law our mom, Elise, worked very hard to see enacted. (This is Emma shaking Gov. Murphy's hand as he signs the law and hands her the pen.)

One of the signatures of our work is a workshop offered for 5th graders called, If You Know, You Know. IYKYK is modeled after meetings we did with young people when we were still in middle/high school. This was one of the things Quinn has enjoyed the most in her leadership.

Led by our mom, our team has educated hundreds of young people who learn things like wearing pads for too long, even if they appear clean, can cause irritation, infection and serious health issues. Imagine, if we do not teach this in school, are often afraid to speak about it even in our homes, so many people do not learn the most basic aspects of caring for themselves safely and with dignity. GHGP is a leader in this education and we are grateful for your support of our programming.

This giving season, please consider a donation to GHGP to which helps us donate products, fund educational workshops, and work to decrease the stigma surrounding periods and period poverty. Just $5 can supply someone with the products they need to manage their period for a whole month. $50 covers everything for a participant in our workshop.

Thank you for supporting GHGP and the fight to end period poverty.

Much love and happy holidays,

Emma and Quinn