Though there's a few months left of summer break, a local non-profit is already making sure schools are supplied with enough feminine hygiene products.
Project Marilyn has teamed up with Southern Hills Hospital to 'Pad The Bus', distributing pads and tampons to schools around the Las Vegas Valley.
Now through July 21, Southern Hills Hospital will be accepting donations at three locations. The hospitals will match product donations up to 20,000 pads. "Too many students in our community do not have access to safe and needed supplies," said Southern Hills Hospital CEO Alexis Mussi. "That's why we are proud to support Project Marilyn in their efforts to end period poverty in Southern Nevada."
According to Project Marilyn founder Wendi Schweigart, 69% of female public school students attend Title 1 schools. Unfortunately, period products are classified as 'luxury items' through federal programs such as SNAP and EBT. "1 in 4 girls will miss days of school due to not having access to period products", said Wendi. "As long as a teen is in school, we have to recognize that period supplies ARE school supplies."
Project Marilyn was founded in 2019 with the mission to end period poverty, distributing period kits to other non-profit organizations and encouraging others to donate, especially as feminine hygiene products are the least donated supplies.
Fill the bus will be delivering supplies on July 27.
Donate online, or at any of the following locations: Southern Hills Hospital, ER at The Lakes, and ER at South Las Vegas Blvd.