A Period Poverty Survivor Tells Her Story

FAMILY TESTIMONIAL

Virginia is a 36-year-old resident of the Golden Gate community who has been visiting the Meals of Hope mobile food pantry at Emmanuel Community Park for the past two years. She shared how the Alliance for Period Supplies of SWFL Program has been a great help to her and her 19-year-old sister during these years. Virginia mentioned that receiving extra support has been beneficial to them both. She recalls a time when they were running out of period products, and she had to use paper or something else, leaving the few products they had left to her younger sister. “Those were difficult times for us. Sometimes we had to prioritize buying my medicines, or food, before feminine pads” said Virginia.

APS of SWFL has been providing Meals of Hope with feminine supplies donations and they have been distributing period pads at different food pantry locations for a few years now, and over 2,000 families have been benefiting from it every month. Virginia expressed her gratitude, saying, "Thank God you are here today! My sister gave birth a few days ago, and the help with feminine pads has been incredibly awesome, now more than ever!" She was delighted to find out that the APS of SWFL Program distribution was happening in the first week of the 2024 year. “Thanks to everyone who donate and contributed to the Program, we are excited about its continuation this year” said Virginia as she received her supplies for that week with a smile.