Did you know? Many low-income families in our Region struggle to pay for feminine hygiene products. In the United States, 1 in 5 girls miss school or women miss work, during their monthly cycle because they do not have the necessary supplies. The YWCA Great Lakes Bay Region is holding our Thanks4Giving Period Dignity Drive to provide low income or homeless women and girls in Saginaw, Midland and Bay Counties with care packages to aid in reducing barriers to economic success, like period poverty. No on should have to choose between feeding herself and her personal health & dignity.

Menstrual products are expensive in the U.S. In a national survey of 1,000 menstruating teens, 1 in 5 struggled to afford period products and 4 in 5 either missed or knew someone who missed class time because they did not have access to period products. Unfortunately, government benefits, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), do not cover the cost of these necessary supplies. While the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act made period products medical expenses eligible for purchase with flexible spending accounts or health savings accounts, uninsured individuals cannot access this benefit.

We are accepting donations of unopened pads and tampons in all sizes and brands.

Donations can be made at the locations below, including online before November 27, 2024:

Bay County:

• YWCA Great Lakes Bay Region - 205 6th Street, Bay City, MI

  • M & W from 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM

Online:

• Check Out our Amazon Wishlist

If you would like to host a bin at your location in the GLBR, please get in touch! 989-894-9055

YWCA Great Lakes Bay Region collects and then distributes products to local organizations in our community such as shelters, public schools, and asset limited women and girls in our Region, including directly providing some supplies to our program participants. Past donation recipient organizations include Bay Area Women’s Center, Shelterhouse, Mustard Seed Shelter, and Emmaus House, Open Door, Garber Highschool, Underground Railroad, Bay-Arenac and Saginaw ISD’s and students in our Young Women Choosing Action Program.

• Sign up to be a volunteer! We need people to help pick up the supplies, count the supplies for required reporting, and distribute supplies in the region.

• Put up a flyer! Print our flyer and put at your office, church, school, or coffee shop to help get the word out about the drive.

• Share online! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram and share information about the drive when we post so we can spread the word about the need in our region and where to make donations!