Oklahoma is going to be a-OK! The Midwest City-Del City Public Schools Foundation is proud to announce a groundbreaking program for addressing period poverty in public schools by providing 207 Aunt Flow dispensers with free period products in restroom facilities in each district’s elementary, middle, and high schools.
SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital is sponsoring the dispensers, making this innovative program the first in Oklahoma and one of the first in the nation!
Midwest City-Del City Supporting Menstruators
Lindse Barks, director of the Midwest City-Del City Public School Foundation, is using this program to support menstruators who may be facing period poverty. These effects can often be magnified for young people starting their menstruation journey, which can be a confusing time, especially when combined with myriad other physical and social challenges of adolescence. Inflation and rising costs of living also contribute to period poverty.
A New York pilot program that offered free period products resulted in a 2.4% increase in class attendance.
“Period poverty is one of those problems that people tend to think of as happening in other times and places – if they are aware of it at all,” said Lindse. “Unfortunately, period poverty is very real for today’s Oklahoma students, and we believe this partnership will go a long way to help address it. Additionally, we hope this will help start a dialogue not only in our schools but in our community and the state as a whole, so we may all better understand and confront the inequities brought about by period poverty.”
Aunt Flow Helping The Sooner State
Aunt Flow is honored to be the solution Midwest City-Del City has chosen to help make the world better for people with periods! Our high-quality, sustainable period products will be available in 207 dispensers free to all students and teachers, regardless of income or need – no more quarters for outdated dispensers and no questions asked!
“The Founding Sisters of SSM Health St. Anthony were dedicated to serving Oklahoma’s vulnerable and addressing the inequities of their time, just as we believe Mid-Del Schools is doing through this program today,” said Karen Green, regional director of Mission Integration, SSM Health St. Anthony. “Our organization has been eager to jump onboard in support of this initiative as it reflects our Mission-driven goal of expanding access to high-quality health care to all who need it.”
The district anticipates dispensers will be in place by fall 2022.
Congratulations to Lindse Barks, Midwest City-Del City Public Schools, and SSM Health in Oklahoma for doing their part to help people – PERIOD! Are you interested in supporting menstruators in your school? See what Aunt Flow can do for you!
