ND Period Project officials speak about "menstrual inequities", tampon taxes, and tackling period stigma

(Bismarck, ND) -- One women's health organization is looking to create and spread awareness on "Menstrual Inequities" happening across North Dakota.

The North Dakota Period Project is gathering donations, either by dollar or by materials, to create "Period Packs". The packs contain hygiene products like tampons and pads, hand sanitizer, and packets which give instructions on how to use the contained products. The North Dakota Period Project then distributes the packs to communities in need of menstrual supplies. 

"Donations might be menstrual supplies, they might be hand sanitizer, or pencil cases," says Olivia Data, a coordinator for the Youth Action Council, "We select a date and a time and a location, and people from that community are welcome to help assemble period packs."

Data says there are many barriers which can make menstrual supplies less accessible. The project is looking to legislatively tackle a problem they call "The Tampon Tax". The term refers to sales taxes on items which directly aid with menstruation.

"Ironically, in the list of things that are considered necessities in our state and aren't subject to sales tax, food coloring falls under that. But menstrual products do not fall under that, so menstrual products are subject to sales tax, and considered a non-necessity based on sales tax law,"says Kristie Wolf, The Executive Director of North Dakota Women's Network, "A menstrual pad is taxed, an incontinence pad is considered a medical product... Many times, I bet you that if I held one of each up, you couldn't tell which was which...Menstrual products are medical necessities. They are necessities for people who menstruate."

Wolf says the program is sharing menstrual supplies with local schools. She states many schools have been difficult to contact.

"We've had schools that we reached out to and they don't even return our phone calls. All we're literally wanting to do is drop off a bag of period packs, " said Wolf, "We've especially been finding this in rural communities.

You can learn more about the North Dakota Period Project by clicking here.