In the news: Zonta supports Room in the Inn

Recognizing that generally people don’t think about feminine hygiene needs for women, or the fact women may also be homeless, the Zonta Club of Elizabethtown recently donated tampons and pads, as well as items to address incontinence problems for women, to the Room In The Inn shelter program.

RITI operates December to the end of February offering 24-hour shelter for both men and women who have no place to go and are living homeless. Each night recently, with 19 beds for men and 13 for women, the program has operated at capacity.

A lack of menstrual products because of finances or accessibility, “Period Poverty,” is a serious problem. According to Zonta International Caucus it impacts an estimated 500 million worldwide, including the U.S. and also locally. It also can be defined as limited or inadequate access to menstrual products or menstrual health education as a result of financial needs or negative socio-cultural stigmas associated with menstruation. With this in mind, it is not surprising that asking for help to get period products often is embarrassing and costly not just for the homeless but others facing financial stress.

It is the goal of Zonta to take action, educate, raise awareness and create service projects to address this issue. Ideas for donating menstrual products and making a difference include shelter programs like RITI, SpringHaven domestic violence shelter, food pantries, middle and high school resource centers and pregnancy programs like Clarity Solutions.

Zonta’s Mission, “Building a Better World for Women and Girls” through addressing both locally and internationally, issues of fairness and equality for women, girls and children academically and in the workplace, as well as advocating against gender-based violence, child marriage and human trafficking. Further, the club has an interest in promoting the awareness for climate change and it’s impact on women.

For more information about Zonta, go to zonta.org, on Facebook, Zonta Club of Elizabethtown or for membership inquiries contact Kelly Roark at 270- 401-8141. Meetings are the fourth Thursday evening at Shoney’s, dinner at 5:30 p.m. and meeting at 6 p.m.

Read the full article here.