Club Spotlight: Free Flow Aims to Curb Period Poverty
1 in 4 girls have missed class because they lacked menstrual supplies, and 2 in 5 women struggle to afford these supplies, according to Amelia McKinney, co-founder of Jordan’s Free Flow club.
“The mission of [Free Flow] is to be able to address the issue of period poverty at Jordan,” states Katie Taylor, the other co-founder. “Free Flow aims to address stigma around menstrual cycles and to provide each student with enough supplies to attend class comfortably.” To follow this goal, their club has eight bathrooms at school stocked with around 80 pads and 50 tampons, which are restocked as needed. These supplies are typically used up within a week or two, and Amelia shared that, “[they] feel really happy because [they] know that means the school is benefiting from what [their] club does.”
She also expressed that both she and Katie feel pride seeing the positive impact they are able to make after the process and hard work that went into the club.
Amelia and Katie started the club at the beginning of last year (the 25-26
school year), and they have meetings every Wednesday in room 709 at 8:30. It all began with their previous volunteering experiences at the Diaper Bank, where Katie and Amelia were inspired by the idea of high schoolers helping provide period supplies. After looking deeper and finding out how much of an issue period poverty is, they were inspired to help their own Jordan classmates so that, as Amelia puts it, “No student at Jordan has to miss important class time due to lack of supplies.”
The process of getting Free Flow running took some time at first. They
managed to obtain a $500 grant from the Rotary Club of Southwest Durham, which allowed them to get bins and supplies. They then had to communicate with administrators for a few months in order to get these bins installed into some of the Jordan bathrooms. They are now able to stock them up as needed and see the appreciation that their female classmates feel to have resources at school. Other than these restocking events, Katie shared that the club participates in some clothing drives and packing events at the Diaper Bank as well.
As they turn to face this new school year, Katie and Amelia hope to continue their club’s work and additionally hold a supply drive. Amelia explains, “[S]ince we got started later in the year, we didn’t have time for [a drive]. This is one of our biggest goals this year!”
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