A New York City High School Offers Free Tampons to Students

Very cool news: The High School for Arts and Business in Corona, Queens just announced that it recently installed a dispenser for free tampons and pads in the school. The move is part of an initiative by Julissa Ferreras-Copeland, a New York City councilmember trying to bring free feminine hygiene products to public middle schools and high schools in the area.

 

“Men walk into their restroom and they have everything in it that they need to take care of their normal bodily functions — women don’t,” Ferreras-Copeland told The Cut. For many girls, feminine hygiene products are a necessity that they can’t afford or acquire easily (even in school). Hopefully this is the start to a larger conversation about access, equity, and women’s health.

Cover image courtesy of Shutterstock.

By Lily Herman on September 23, 2015
Lily is the Managing Editor at HelloFlo, where she oversees all editorial and social media operations for the brand. In addition to her work at HF, she's co-founder and CEO of The Prospect, the largest student-run college access organization in the world. Her work has been featured on TIME, Forbes, Newsweek, Cosmopolitan, Elle, Mashable, USA TODAY and Lifehacker. You can perpetually find her on Twitter.