It’s Period Poverty Awareness Week and the Arizona Diaper Bank is on a mission to collect $10,000 — and the equivalent in menstrual hygiene products — in the ongoing battle against this lack of vital resources for women.
“One in three women and young ladies miss work or school because they don’t have these products. No one knows about period poverty until they experience it and many don’t want to talk about it because of the stigma and shame that goes along with it,” said Yevette Sykes, Chief Executive Officer of the Arizona Diaper Bank.
Sykes is doing her best to combat that stigma. In 2018, the Diaper Bank added period products (pads/liners, tampons, menstrual underwear and menstrual cups) to its inventory of diapers and adult incontinence supplies. In addition to the 3.3 million-plus diapers and 300,000-plus adult incontinence supplies distributed in 2023, the nonprofit distributed more than 200,000 period products in 55 communities statewide.
With wholesale pricing, the Diaper Bank is able to leverage donated funds, distributing $3 worth of period supplies for every $1 donated.
“When you think about women missing even one day of work, that is a day of pay lost and that makes them choose between eating and paying their bills. We don’t want them to do that. We want them to be successful in life,” Sykes said.
While demand for diapers and period products remain constant, Sykes said that there has been a increase in requests for incontinence supplies for vulnerable seniors on fixed incomes. She cited one example of a new client whose rent had been raised by $75 monthly.
“She found out we gave out incontinence products and she couldn’t afford to buy them herself when her rent was hiked. She was so grateful for us; we are a blessing in the community. We have been here for 30 years, serving people from the cradle to the cane,” Sykes said.
To further promote awareness about the Diaper Bank and its services, supporters are staging the Diaper Duty Poker Tournament at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 31 at 1050 S. Plumer Ave.
The location of the new fundraisers was intentional.
“This will be held in our warehouse, so participants will be surrounded by what we do: Diapers, incontinence products and period products. The more we people can visually see what we do, the greater the impact. People are often wowed when I give them a tour. We need to make people aware we are here so they know they can come to us for their needs and come to us to donate, whether it be products or monetary donations,” Sykes said.
