From a Small Idea to a Large-Scale Operation: How One Woman is Providing Menstrual Products to Her Neighbors through ioby.

Menstruation is a natural process that affects half of the world’s population, yet access to menstrual products remains a challenge for many. In the United States, one in five menstruating individuals struggle to afford menstrual products, and this issue is particularly acute in low-income communities. However, one woman in Brooklyn, New York, is taking action to address this problem through a grassroots initiative called ioby.

ioby, which stands for “in our backyards,” is a crowdfunding platform that supports community-led projects that aim to improve neighborhoods and promote sustainability. In 2019, Jennifer Weiss-Wolf, a lawyer and menstrual equity advocate, launched a campaign on ioby to provide free menstrual products to her neighbors in Brooklyn. Her idea was simple: she would install dispensers filled with tampons and pads in public restrooms throughout the borough, making them accessible to anyone who needed them.

Weiss-Wolf’s campaign quickly gained traction, and she raised over $20,000 in just a few weeks. With this funding, she was able to install 50 dispensers in public schools, community centers, and other public spaces across Brooklyn. The dispensers are stocked with organic and eco-friendly menstrual products, which are often more expensive than conventional options but are better for the environment and people’s health.

The impact of Weiss-Wolf’s initiative has been significant. According to a survey conducted by her team, 86% of people who used the dispensers said they were grateful for the service, and 70% said they had saved money by not having to purchase menstrual products themselves. Moreover, the initiative has sparked conversations about menstrual equity and the need for more comprehensive policies to address this issue.

Weiss-Wolf’s success with ioby has inspired others to launch similar campaigns in their own communities. In fact, ioby has become a hub for menstrual equity projects, with dozens of campaigns raising funds for everything from menstrual product distribution to menstrual education and advocacy. The platform has also partnered with organizations like Period Equity and the Menstrual Equity Coalition to amplify the impact of these initiatives and advocate for policy change at the local and national levels.

Overall, Weiss-Wolf’s story is a testament to the power of grassroots activism and community-led solutions. By recognizing a need in her own neighborhood and taking action to address it, she has created a model for others to follow and has helped to advance the cause of menstrual equity. As she wrote in a blog post for ioby, “It’s not just about the tampons. It’s about the dignity, respect, and equity that come with them.”

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• Source: https://zephyrnet.com/one-womans-idea-to-provide-menstrual-products-to-her-neighbors-grows-into-a-large-scale-operation-ioby/