THE INNER Wheel Club in Redditch has been busy donating feminine hygiene products in a bid to eradicate ‘period poverty’ after an unexpected donation, writes Shivani Chaudhari.
The Inner Wheel Club of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has set itself a challenge of bringing the issue of women and girls not being able to afford sanitary products in the next three years.
After hearing about the drive the owner of Knight’s Pharmacy Nitin Sodha donated over 1,000 boxes of sanitary products.
Some of the items have now been distributed to those in need through a number of organisations including the Trussell Trust foodbank, Batchley Support Group, a refuge in Henley-in-Arden and a foodbank in Edgbaston.
Pat Pritchard, the Redditch Inner Wheel Club correspondent, said: “We contacted Mr Sodha to ask if he could help and were absolutely overwhelmed by his kindness and generosity.
“All of the sanitary products will be put to good use, eradicating period poverty – it’s just knowing now where they are most needed.”
Mr Sodha added education played a huge role in ending the stigma associated with period poverty.
“This has unfortunately been around a very long time and must change.
“By helping raise awareness in this way we can hopefully step in the right direction.”
He added at Lexon and Knights Pharmacy they believed in supporting any female-related campaigns, especially with International Women’s Day approaching next Sunday, March 6.
Currently the UK has a five per cent tax rate on all sanitary products and period poverty affects one in ten girls and women in England.
Pat urged any organisations where period poverty was an issue to contact her at innerwheel-district6.co.uk
