Jersey City Library To Host Free Period Product Giveaway

JERSEY CITY, NJ — The Jersey City Free Public Library will be giving away period products for free to the community as part of a Back To School Product Giveaway branded, 'With U, She Can.'

Menstruating students in Jersey City or those in the community with limited access to period products can grab them for free at the Miller Branch Library Parking Lot at 4 p.m. on Thursday.

The library is teaming up with several period-advocacy organizations, including the Jersey City-based organization The Flow Initiative.

According to a survey by The Flow Initiative of 100 girls in Jersey City high schools, 28 percent have missed school because of a lack of menstrual products. Within the same survey, 90 percent of girls responded that they have needed menstrual products while in school and 76 percent have had a menstrual accident while in school. Of those surveyed, 86 percent believe that a lack of period products affects a girl’s confidence and her ability to focus and learn.

Jersey City’s Barack Obama Community School became the first this year, to begin a pilot program run by The Flow Initiative that will place free period products in the girls bathrooms.