Representative Summers to Provide Feminine Hygiene Products to Boys and Girls Club of Central Mississippi during Period Poverty Awareness Week

May 17, 2023 – Jackson, MS – Representative Zakiya Summers is proud to announce that she is the recipient of a $1,000 donation of period products on behalf of the Boys and Girls Club of Central Mississippi. She was chosen as part of a contest hosted by The National Foundation for Women Legislators (NFWL) in their partnership with Kimberly-Clark and its U by Kotex® brand, who will be providing the donations directly. The contest aimed to raise awareness about period poverty and to support innovative solutions to address this issue, and Representative Summers is dedicated to having an impact on this issue. 

Representative Summers in partnership with the Center for Social Entrepreneurship will provide these products to the young ladies at BGCCM – Capitol Unit, located at 1450 Capitol Street, during the “Menstrual Health Matters” program on Monday, May 22, 2023. The event will run from 4-5:30 p.m. and will include healthcare professionals, motivational speakers, goody bags, and dinner. WJMI 99.7’s Christiana Houston Williams will host it. 

Rep. Summers also looks forward to being featured on NFWL’s social media channels throughout the month of May leading up to Period Poverty Awareness Week, May 22-28, 2023, bringing light to an issue that effects so many. 

“We are thrilled with the incredible response we received for the Ending Period Poverty with NFWL Contest,” said Jody Thomas, Executive Director of NFWL.  “The winning projects demonstrated a keen understanding of the challenges faced by individuals experiencing period poverty and provided innovative and actionable solutions to address this issue. We are excited to honor Representative Summers and the other 12 winners and look forward to seeing their ideas in action.”

“Period poverty is a widespread issue that affects millions of individuals in the United States, as well as people right here in communities across Mississippi,” said Summers. “Lack of access to menstrual products and hygiene education can lead to missed school and work, social isolation, and other adverse outcomes. That’s why I remain committed to raising awareness about period poverty and to promoting equitable access to menstrual products and reproductive health for all individuals.”

Rep. Summers co-sponsored HB 1264, which authorizes school districts to provide feminine hygiene products to students in grades 6 through 12 at no cost. It was signed into law during the 2023 Legislative Session.

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Alliance for Period Supplies and PERIOD. work collaboratively to end period poverty in the U.S. and to advocate for equitable access to period products in public spaces.

Priority legislation includes:

• End the tampon tax –benefitting all people who menstruate;
  • HB 1333: primary sponsor. died in committee.
• Provide free period products in all public school restrooms–supporting all students who menstruate;
  • HB1264: An Act To Authorize School Districts To Make Feminine Hygiene Products Available, At No Cost To Students, In The Bathrooms Or Offices Of The School Nurse In School Buildings For Students In Grade 6 Through Grade 12. Primary sponsor Rep. Lataisha Jackson. Co-Sponsor. Signed into law.
• Make period products as freely available as toilet paper in all restrooms of public buildings, which benefits all people who menstruate; 
• Provide free period products in prisons and jails, which benefits all incarcerated individuals who menstruate;
  • Dignity for Incarcerated Women Act passed in 2021. co-sponsor.
• Fund sustainable, community-based period distribution programs, which will benefit the 1 in 4 individuals who menstruate and cannot afford period supplies.
  • Menstrual Health Matters – May 22, 2023