After several months of collecting basic menstrual hygiene products and fundraising, the Peninsula Period Network has signed and agreement with the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District (KPBSD) and is now supplying boxes of basic menstrual hygiene products across the district.
According the the group Facebook page, they began collecting basic menstrual hygiene products in August 2022 and as of Wednesday, January 26 they have now started to offer boxes in campuses across the Kenai Peninsula School District.
Peninsula Period Network is dedicated to ending period poverty and the trauma associated with not having access to basic menstrual hygiene products for KPBSD students. The Peninsula Period provides free menstrual products in restrooms and welcomes the community to help support the program.
Chera Wackler, Peninsula Period Network founder explains the idea of the program.
“The idea of having a kid that’s going to go through what I went through and then I think about all the kids that have to go through what I went through, and I just said, how do I get them into the school.”
Wackler has been working closely with KPBSD and has received support from across the Kenai Peninsula.
“We saw a problem, which is first time menstruators or even me who has menstruated for 30-plus years, don’t always know when your menstruation is going to come. And so having them in the bathrooms, rather than in the nurses office or the principals office like one school said they do. Students are just way more likely to actually utilize it.”
Wackler stated that now they are searching for advocates for each school to refill the caddies on a regular basis with the products the group provides.
Currently, the schools listed below have parent/teacher/student volunteers, but more support is needed.
- Soldotna Elementary
- Soldotna Montessori
- KCHS (2)
- SOHI (2)
- Skyview Middle
- River City Academy
- Kenai Middle
- Mt.View Elementary
- Kenai Alternative
If you don’t see your school listed and you, or someone you know, would like to serve the community as a student or parent advocate, please email chera@peninsulaperiodnetwork.org or call/text Chera Wackler at 907-252-3156.
Peninsula Period Network’s goal is to reach all 42 schools in the district and roll them out as soon as they have an advocate. All advocates are required to have a KPBSD background check before they enter the schools if they are not a student. Student volunteers can earn hours towards their community service.
*Audio courtesy of Alaska’s News Source