From Help A Girl Out USA
Since 2022, Help A Girl Out has been holding drives throughout Berks and Schuylkill counties to collect feminine hygiene products and has been distributing them to bring dignity back to women and girls experiencing period poverty and period insecurity.
According to research data on period.org, 1 in 4 students struggle to afford period products in the U.S., and 2 in 5 women struggle to purchase period products due to lack of income [Alliance for Period Supplies]. Help a Girl Out has been successful in reaching students through schools and community programs, but what happens when school is out? Periods don’t take summer break.
In response to this challenge and building on the success of the 2026 campaign and drive, Help A Girl Out is launching the ‘Turning the Page on Period Poverty’ initiative across eight local libraries to increase summer access points to products.
Suzanne Cody, Founder of Help a Girl Out USA, has continued to expand the reach of the organization’s distribution points, identifying community needs as the project continues to grow. “We talk a lot about summer hunger, but period poverty is just as critical an issue for youth who lose access to school-based resources in June. This summer, the Reading District Libraries are serving as our critical frontline distribution sites to close that gap. Let’s work together to keep our community supported, healthy, and dignified.”
Participating library locations include Bethel-Tulpehocken Public Library, Mifflin Community Library, Bernville Area Community Library, Northeast Branch of Reading Public Library, Village Library, Reading Public Library Main Branch, Reading Public Library Southeast Branch, and Wernersville Public Library.
The library system serves as a vital, trusted public hub that helps to close community resource gaps that widen when schools are closed. Participating libraries will distribute essential menstrual products directly to patrons via a dignified and discreet “ask at the desk” model.
Visit helpagirloutusa.com for details and to donate.
Visit Help A Girl Out USA | Period Product Drive by Sunday, June 14, to drop-ship essential products directly to Helping Harvest for this summer program.
