LYNN — The Salvation Army is hosting a drive to collect feminine-care products for community members in need.
The drive has already begun and is ongoing, but there will be a larger kickoff in May in conjunction with another nonprofit, Dignity Matters, which collects sanitary products to distribute to other nonprofits.
Capt. Helen Johnson of The Salvation Army has been working in the social-services scene for more than four years and said she has noticed that there aren’t many places that give out feminine-care products to the general population.
“We want to kind of build up a stock so we can give them out to people who are just in need,” Johnson said. “At this point in time, everybody knows that prices of things have gone up and continue to go up… Many individuals struggle with period poverty and are unable to afford the monthly cost of feminine-hygiene products, causing them to miss school or work.”
Having daughters of her own, Johnson said she is overwhelmed with the prices of these tampons and sanitary pads.
One of Johnson’s daughters, who attends Pickering Middle School, did a research project about how many students at Pickering miss school because they don’t have proper hygiene products.
Her daughter presented the findings to stakeholders and obtained the needed funding to put sanitary products in all of the bathrooms at Pickering.
“I was talking to her guidance counselor about how we need to do this in all of the schools,” Johnson said. “We need to make these things available to all of Lynn and everyone who needs them.”
This project sparked Johnson’s idea to host a drive for feminine-care products — in addition to their food drive — which didn’t exist before.
“No one should have to go without these and stay home because they don’t have what they need,” Johnson said.
Donations can be dropped off at The Salvation Army at 1 Franklin St., and if someone has a large load they would like to donate, contact Johnson to arrange a pickup at [email protected] or 781-598-0673.
Donations can be dropped off Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Unopened boxes are preferred, but all products must be wrapped.
The Salvation Army will continue to accept these products indefinitely for community members to pick up. Johnson said they are accepting any kinds of products.
Products will be available to pick up at The Salvation Army, as well as during the food pantry, which is on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m. to noon. Citizens do not have to pick up food to get the products.
Johnson also encourages people to like The Salvation Army’s Facebook page for updates on when there are enough products to start distribution and to see what is available.
