SWAMPSCOTT — Resident Liora Ragozin is making menstrual hygiene products more accessible to the community with the launch of her Self-Care Station at the Swampscott Public Library.
The rising senior at Swampscott High School is a youth advisor for the Pad Project, an international nonprofit organization that seeks to “end the period stigma” by distributing resources women need. In May, Ragozin hosted a screening for the Pad Project’s documentary, “Period. End of a Sentence,” and solicited donations of menstrual products from attendees.
She hopes that her initiative will cause people to be more open about and accepting of the demand for these types of products and the lack of affordability some people deal with.
“Women’s issues have really been important to me, especially now in this day and age when it’s unfortunately controversial,” Ragozin said. “I’m really proud that the Swampscott Library is hosting this and I’m really excited to spread this within the community.”
While menstrual hygiene products are the focus of the Self-Care Station, other hygiene products, such as toothbrushes and deodorant, are also offered at the station.
Library Director Jonathan Nichols was happy to support Ragozin by having his facility be the home of the station, and emphasized that anyone who uses its supplies is not subject to judgment.
“Anyone can come in and use this, no one is actively monitoring it,” Nichols said. “This is literally here for everyone to use.”
Both Ragozin and Nichols alluded to a potential addition of more stations throughout the library if it is well-received and heavily utilized.
Ragozin envisions the implementation of stations at Swampscott High School, as she said the culture of the issue remains more stigmatized there than she would like. With Ragozin set to attend college in fall 2025, she is hoping to recruit some younger high-schoolers to continue the cause in town.
The library is accepting donations of all types of new hygiene products.
