Period poverty is a global sanitation issue faced by females and males around the world. More than 800 million people menstruate daily, so it’s safe to say that a shortage of period supplies and menstrual hygiene education can be considered a human rights issue. Advocating for menstrual equity is essential in order to support so many people globally and you can help right from the comfort of your own home.

Due to the current climate of the world, it may seem like there is very little we can do to help while being cautious and social distancing, however, there are ways to safely make a difference. One way is to host a period packing party at home. A simple period packing party can be a small get-together with the goal to educate guests about the impact of their generosity, raise money and have a fun time packing period kits to donate.

1. Invite Your Friends: First, ask a couple of your friends who you know are healthy if they are interested in participating and willing to donate their own hygiene products or buy some to donate. If you want more people to join in on the fun, you could always have a video conference. That way more people can join, and they’ll be able to donate to their own local shelter or charity.

2. Choose Where to Donate: It’s important to specify which charity or shelter you would like to donate to and do research. Look at how they would like you to donate, whether it’s by mail or dropping the kits off at one of their drop off center. They could also specify what you can or can’t donate, which is important to take into account.

3. Choose What to Pack: After you figure out all of that information, think about what you would like the period kits to look like and what it will contain. The bags you choose should be big enough to include the contents you want to pack, but small enough that it wouldn’t be a burden and can be placed in a purse or backpack. A period kit can have more than just period products such as pads, tampons, diva cups, panty liners, etc. The kit can also include a new, clean pack of underwear, cleansing wipes, hand sanitizer, and plastic bags, or a disposal pouch that could hold stained underwear. You can include hygiene products outside the realm of menstruation such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, a hairbrush, and so on. Once you figure out what you will be packing and where you’ll be donating to, tell your friends the date, the time and what to bring.

4. Educate Your Guests: At the beginning of your period packing party, give your friends a rundown of what you will be doing and why it’s so important. Show them a video about period poverty or present them with some shocking statistics. Also, give them information about the charity or shelter you will be donating to. The hope is to educate more and more people and get them invested in the issue even after your period packing party.

5. Find Your Packing Process: Figure out how you would like to pack, whether that be an assembly line or letting each person pack their own kit. Layout all of the products and organize them to make the packing process more seamless and fun. It shouldn’t be a stressful task.

6. Have Fun: A party is still a party no matter how small it is and it’s important to enjoy it, especially after months of quarantine. Get some snacks, pour some drinks, turn on upbeat music and catch up with your friends!

Sources:

· Global Citizen. (2019). Period Poverty: Everything You Need to Know.

https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/period-poverty-everything-you-need-to-know/

· The Homeless Period Project. Start a tradition and host a Packing Party – it’s a party with a purpose.

https://www.homelessperiodproject.org/host-a-period-party#:~:text=What'S%20a%20Packing%20Party%3F,supports%20the%20Homeless%20Period%20Project.&text=Regardless%20of%20your%20party%20style,Period%20Packs%20and%20raising%20funds.

· Raigan J. (2017). DIY Period Kit for School.

https://www.raiganj.com.au/diyperiodkitforschool/#:~:text=The%20bare%20minimum%20for%20a,tampons%20when%20they%20get%20older)&text=plastic%20bags%20(to%20hold%20stained,before%20leaving%20the%20toilet%20cubicle)