To reduce period poverty in Souderton’s schools and community, Recycle the Cycle (RTC) facilitates the donation and distribution of period products to classrooms around the high school.
Period poverty refers to the lack of access or ability to afford period products.
According to RTC president Claudia Elwell, the main goal of RTC is to “just take off the extra weight or worry about whether or not you were to have products with you or on you.”
“I have kept doing it for so long because it shouldn’t be something we have to fight for or organize a club [around],” Elwell said.
According to the Today Show, “no young woman should face losing class time because she is too embarrassed to ask for, can’t afford or simply cannot access feminine hygiene products.”
After a pilot program where period products were made available in school bathrooms, a New York public school saw a 2.4% increase in attendance.
Many teens find it helpful when there are period products in bathrooms, classrooms or any public place.
This year, RTC has been focusing on community outreach to increase donations and keep period products stocked for use in classrooms around the high school.
According to RTC advisor Karin Clark, this year the club has “taken off” due to providing bins for teachers’ classrooms and offices.
“It has been very successful ever since I joined because we started our funding from outside sources,” RTC member Camille Elwell said.
As of March, RTC has received over 2,000 donated products from the community. All donations are passed out to classrooms to make them available for students.
“The school community really helped with making sure females have a place to go with period products,” Clark said.
As of right now, RTC only distributes products around the high school.
According to Clark, she would “love to have the club go to the middle schools and have a connection with them there, so they have access to period products, as well.”
According to Camille, she joined the club because it “sparked her interest.”
“As someone who is very passionate about women’s equal rights and feminism, I really do enjoy this club,” Camille said.
Camille said the goal set for RTC is to get increase funding to buy more products for students.
“As long as we take those steps, we can reach the goal, which is very attainable,” Camille said.