Stuart Applauds Kimberly-Clark Donation to Provide Women’s Hygiene Supplies to Illinoisans in Need

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. — State Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville, is announcing a donation of feminine hygiene products by Kimberly-Clark in partnership with the National Foundation of Women Legislators (NFWL), which will help local women in need.

“Period poverty is an all too common, and preventable, phenomenon that occurs when a menstruating person doesn’t have sufficient access to hygiene supplies,” Stuart said. “This can lead to missed work or school, social isolation, embarrassment and difficulty with daily functioning.”

Stuart is recognizing the donation of $1,000 in feminine hygiene products during Period Poverty Awareness Week, which is recognized from May 20-28, 2024. Period poverty affects millions of Americans and their families in the United States. Stuart is committed to raising awareness about this issue and submitted one of several winning projects in NFWL’s contest, which was aimed at raising awareness as well as promoting innovative solutions to the problem.

Stuart is working alongside the Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville (SIUE) chapter of Support the Girls, headed by faculty sponsor Alicia Alexander, Ph.D, to distribute the supplies.

“Support the Girls-Edwardsville is honored to be chosen as a recipient of the Kimberly-Clark $1,000 period product donation,” Alexander said. “With 2 out of 5 people struggling to buy their monthly supplies, period poverty is an ongoing challenge in the greater Metro East Saint Louis community, and this donation will aid us immensely in our efforts to reduce the burden for those we help.  From schools to foster care support programs to libraries and street-outreach missions for those in need, this donation will make a great impact and we are very appreciative.”

“People can’t be their best and contribute fully without having access to certain essentials which, for families with people who menstruate, includes menstrual hygiene supplies,” Stuart said. “When we see and acknowledge the struggles of everyone, we can all move forward together.”