Period education needs to be mainstream
By Brianna Petriga
The club president starts off the meeting by discussing a matter that they have been working on throughout the semester – finding a place to build a period product pantry. “It’s similar to a Little Library, only filled with period products,” the president explains. She is very eager to have it built somewhere in Reading, as the non profit organizations they have been working with are based out of Reading and Allentown, Pennsylvania. This pantry will be able to make period products more accessible throughout the local area, and will be a strong resource for many people.
Olivia Harris was working at the Community Outreach Center with Serena Campanelli during her sophomore year at Kutztown University. She always wanted to do more community service in her day-to-day life, and she needed an outlet for that. Thus, she created KUPAO, or Kutztown University’s Period Access Outreach, of which she became president, and Serena became VP.
At their first meeting, the organization received their first member, Maya, who would later on become vice president. Maya found the club through Engage and was immediately interested, especially since she had been looking for more ways to help her community. Maya brought her roommate, Melena, along to the club, and they continued spreading the word to bring more members.
As the club continues to expand, so does their variety of fundraising or community service events. They have had a spaghetti dinner, a bracelet making table, guest speakers, raffles, bingos, networking events, and most notably, packing parties.
These events have been used to collect around 12,000 individual period products, which were donated to shelters around the area. Places they work with include but are not limited to Sixth Street Shelter and Opportunity House. Through their networking, they have even been able to get a spotlight on Bucks County Television. All of their events and work show up not only in the donations they are able to give, but how they feel.
Organizing and attending these events has continued to inspire them to go out and do more for their community. Their own work has been able to touch and change their lives for the better. “Everyone has their passion, and this is mine” is what Olivia Harris had to say when asked how she has been affected by their work. You could see the love and passion that the members have for this club by the way they spoke about it. They are ready to make an impact, and they have made a big one.
All of their events have brought people together to combat period poverty through donation, education, and initiation. They are committed to educating the community on periods and period products, and, through their events and continuous networking, this will be made possible.
If you are interested in donating, there’s an ongoing donation box in Hazel’s Cafe on Noble Street. Please feel free to bring new/unopened period products and underwear to donate.