well finally tonight there's an increasing effort across the state to end what's known as period poverty despite the fact that half the population menstruates a considerable number of people aren't able to get the products they need several organizations are teaming up in New Jersey to make sure that access isn't a luxury but a necessity raven Santana reports when you are in a situation where you're looking at your funds and you're choosing whether you know I buy food for my family diapers for my child or period products for myself mothers tend to forgo the period products three community organizations Moms Helping Moms Girls Helping Girls Period and Jewish Family Services have joined forces to combat period poverty which is the lack of adequate access to menstrual products education and sanitation facilities according to a 2021 study by the period product brand U by Cotex period poverty affects up to two in five individuals and the problem is getting worse over the past 5 years surveys have shown a steady rise in the number of people who can't afford menstrual products it's not something that you choose it's part of the body it's natural so there should be help for something like that in honor of period poverty awareness week the organizations are coming together to raise awareness and advance menstrual health equity by providing free period products kathleen Fernandez food pantry coordinator at Jewish Family Services adds that the event is a win-win for clients offering both essential supplies and vital support here's the thing that I've learned here is many of our volunteers are men women are too modest to ask so they will pull someone to the side and show a picture on their phone or they'll call you to the side and whisper in your ear um so I wish we could break that barrier if you see the people have you know this tent outside and people came to pick up food so it is good it's more easy you know to have the products that we need nyla Hadtie executive director of Moms Helping Mom says period poverty can result in missed days at school and work and may lead to infections toxic shock syndrome reproductive health issues depression low self-esteem and other serious health concerns so that they don't have to forego using things and using unsanitary things using things for too long because this can lead to a lot of of detrimental things like infections as well as just your your mental well-being about how I'm feeling am I showing you know all that type of stuff as a result of this you know we have girls who miss school you have women who miss going to work as much as we love drives and these kinds of events if you think about it this is absurd we have to rethink how we think in society we are thinking with a hundred-year-old brain when there weren't women in all the spaces there are now el Joy co-founder and executive director of Girls Helping Girls Period launched the organization a decade ago after she and her daughters based in South Orange discovered how many girls lacked access to menstrual products since then she has helped distribute over 5 million period products still she emphasizes that lasting change will come through legislation there's now a law that requires there be menstrual products in school bathrooms in New Jersey in schools that have a 6th through 12th grade if you don't see them in your school please go to your administration they have to by law provide them and the cost is covered by the state so there's really not a great excuse to not see them in the school bathrooms joy says the next step is to bring free menstrual products and education into elementary schools she believes that by teaching students about these products at an early age they'll be better equipped to use them safely and confidently for NJ Spotlight News I'm Raven Santana support for the medical report is provided by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey an independent lency of the Bluec Cross Blue Shield Association [Music]