New Jersey Giveback

Since 2019, GrassROOTS members have provided over 100,000 sanitary napkins to thousands of girls in the US, Jamaica and Ghana—yet that is not enough.  This problem of punishing women for having their periods is ubiquitous across the globe. Yet 100 percent of the population requires that women menstruate. The hypocrisy is clear.

Within the US, the problem is compounded because of the sales tax placed on sanitary napkins. Of the 50 states the majority of states—more than half 37 in total—charge sales tax on sanitary napkins. We are punishing women and girls for having bodies that reproduce.

1 in 4 girls will miss school each year because they do not have the supplies necessary to have a healthy period. These same girls are often recipients of free and reduced meals. In New Jersey, we work to address this need in Newark NJ and West Orange NJ.

Newark NJ

We partnered with Uzima Dance Fitness to build the Red Spot Pantry at Central High School in 2019. Together with volunteers from Mastercard, GrassROOTS built it’s first pantry of free shelf stable foods and free period essentials for all students at Central.

West Orange NJ

Almost 50% of students at West Orange High School qualify for free or reduced lunch, an indication of need (Source: https://www.publicschoolreview.com/west-orange-high-school-profile/07052).  Together students and administrators of West Orange School District, West Orange High School Student Council and West Orange Airforce JROTC, GrassROOTS joined forces with HerFlow Foundation to deliver training during Period Awareness Week in October. The event culminated in our inaugural Red Dot Day on October 24, 2020, where we collected nearly 20,000 pads and tampons, and delivered necessary period supplies for youth receiving free and reduced lunch.

Help us in stopping period poverty. Give TODAY!!

You can support this worthy cause by sending a financial donation or sanitary supplies to 

GrassROOTS Community Foundation

59 Main Street, suite 323

West Orange, New Jersey 07052