Gender Equality United States Project #44108

End Period Poverty and Give Girls, Women Hope

by Jake's Network of Hope

Project Report | Oct 25, 2022
Jake's Partnership with AASD Elementary School

By Lyssa Schmidt | Development Director

“Making Connections that Count.” That’s the inspiring motto that staff at Jefferson Elementary School in the Appleton Area School District focus their education programs around for its students, kindergarten to sixth grade.

Jefferson is one of the seven elementary schools in the Appleton Area School District to be a part of the Achievement Gap Reduction (AGR) Program.

The AGR program requires a participating school to create performance objectives, including reducing the achievement gap between low−income students and students in the same grade and subject statewide.

As a way to help make connections that count, Jefferson Elementary School has partnered with Jake’s to provide their intermediate students with pads, liners and tampons to enable students to reach their true academic, emotional, physical and social potential while inspiring them to discover their inner passion to learn.

“Our intermediate female students now have a locker designated for period products that they can access at any time they need. The products in the locker came from Jake's Network! We have already had students use the locker and they are so grateful they don't have to worry about having the necessary products,” said Leah Zwiers, Community Schools Resource Coordinator.

We are very proud to be partnered with Jefferson Elementary School to tackle period poverty through our On The Dot Program to provide dignity for girls through equality and access to period products.

Period poverty, or the lack of access to menstrual products, education, hygiene facilities, or waste management, can keep girls and women from attending school, work and participating in society. Today, period poverty affects an estimated 500 million people worldwide each year.

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Sep 22, 2022
Jake's Stocks Little Free Hygiene Library

By Lyssa Schmidt | Development Director

Nationally, 14% of college students struggled with affording period products. The inability to afford period products is tied with that individual's mental health: studies show that those who’ve struggled with period products in the past year are more likely to be depressed.

The Mulva Library at St. Norbert’s College has partnered with Jake’s Network of Hope to stock its “Little Free Hygiene Library” with period supplies, to ensure all students on campus have access to menstruation products.

“Donated period supplies will be stocked in the Mulva Library's "Little Free Hygiene Library" for users to access 24 hours, 7 days a week at no cost and no qualifying factor,” said Jasmine Gordon, Community Engagement Specialist at the Mulva Library. “After surveying students on our campus, we have actualized the immense impact of food insecurity and therefore, can envision the demand for period products and other general hygiene related products. To ensure dignity of users, period products will be available in a private, unmonitored area.”

The Mulva Library is the campus’s hub and haven for not only the St. Norbert College community, but also the surrounding public. It is a space where all are welcome.

“In conjunction with the overarching mission of the institution as a whole, the Mulva Library's mission is to offer a space where people and ideas converge and spark the creation of new knowledge,” Gordon said. “As the intellectual heart of campus, we work to provide a place where students, faculty, staff and the wider community can learn, innovate, collaborate and find that important time to reflect.”

This program is needed on campus to support students' needs and to address hygiene equity. Jake’s is proud to partner with the Mulva Library to provide dignity for girls and women through equality and access to period products. We know that period products are essential tools to keep girls and women in school, at work and participating in society when they cannot otherwise obtain period products on their own.

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Jul 18, 2022
Creating Equal Access to Period Products

By Lyssa Schmidt | Development Director

At Jake’s we believe in providing dignity for girls and women through equality and access to period products. These are essential tools to keep girls and women in school, at work and participating in society when they cannot otherwise obtain period products on their own.

Jake’s Network of Hope has partnered with Green Bay Area Public Schools to provide East High School with menstrual products to be stocked in all of their girls bathrooms in order for students to feel welcome and provided for at school.

A number of students provided feedback on having menstrual products available to them at school.

“I think this is great for the girls especially if they’re nervous to ask someone for products. I haven’t really seen other schools do this. I think it’s awesome.”

“While I only used the products once, it's just overall comforting to know it's there. I feel that it also helps with the stigma that periods are supposed to be discrete and kept quiet. I just really appreciate it being there for many reasons.“

“I have not used one yet because my period is not regular and comes all of sudden. It is a worry for me to not know when to expect my period. I'm glad and thankful to know that the school provides supplies. Thank you so much for being thoughtful and providing this.”

“Menstrual Products are something every girl needs, many girls cannot afford these products as they can be pricey, please continue this very helpful resource.”

“The menstrual products in the bathroom have been extremely helpful. I think this really helps girls that are afraid to ask to go to the bathroom while sneaking a menstrual product. For girls that live in low-income households, they might struggle to get menstrual products and having a stock at school may really help.”

Are you a nonprofit, school-based or faith-based organization? Let’s team up, become a partner!

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