Feminine Hygiene Products For All. Period.
The lives of young women across New Hampshire just got a little bit easier, courtesy of one compassionate and determined Rochester teen.
High school graduate Caroline Dillon began her push for easier access to feminine hygiene products after learning about “period poverty” in her U.S. History class. The term describes some people’s inability to afford basic feminine hygiene products.
It didn’t take long for Caroline to realize that many of her classmates, especially those on the reduced or free lunch program, were struggling with this problem every month. She quickly turned her concerns into political action. Caroline reached out to State Senator Martha Hennessey, a passionate advocate for women’s health and education. The two worked together to find a solution through legislation. The pair’s argument was simple: if students don’t need to bring essentials like toilet paper to school, why should they need to bring equally essential feminine hygiene products?
As a direct result of Caroline’s dedication, Senate Bill 142 was signed into law this month, making it mandatory for every New Hampshire middle and high school to provide free feminine hygiene products.
I’m proud to name Caroline as July’s Granite Stater of the Month for her work to reduce the stigma around periods and to provide essential feminine hygiene products for those in need. Soon, Caroline will begin as a student at University of Pennsylvania, where she plans to study nursing and women’s health — I can’t wait to see all that she accomplishes.
