Period Power Project gathering supplies to support Wicomico middle schoolers
SALISBURY, Md. – A research project turned community help.
Salisbury University students are teaming up with Wicomico County Public Schools to spread some valuable life knowledge. They’re working to help middle schoolers better approach menstruation. “Growing up of course having a period is daunting,” said Lian Peach, a student organizer.
Menstruation is a word some middle schoolers may be afraid of but a pilot program is set to normalize this moment of maturity. “In middle school, you know it’s kind of awkward, it’s kind of embarrassing, you’re just starting – you have to get up in the middle of the class to go with change and things like that. Young men don’t really understand what’s happening, young women don’t really understand what’s happening,” said Maggie Atherton, a student organizer.
Monday students gathered products for the Period Power Project. The hope is with these supplies, they can better prepare young women who unexpectedly start their period. “Hopefully, we are going to educate students on what is happening in their bodies, what is happening in their classmates’ bodies so that they could be better prepared, better confident and hopefully be able to talk about these things with their friends, with their parents, with their mentors without feeling shame or discomfort,” said Peach.
Salisbury University students lead the project in partnership with Wicomico County Public Schools. Professor Ryan Weaver says students are on a mission to solve needs in their community. “The presidential Citizen Scholars program is a three-semester program where our students look at community issues they are grounded in civic theory, civic foundations, and they look out into the community to try to address some kind of a need with community partners,” said Professor Ryan Weaver, of PACE at Salisbury University.
One of those partners, Aetna Corporation donated sanitary pads and feminine hygiene wipes. They’ll use the supplies to put together discreet emergency kits which will be donated to Wicomico middle schools. Having these materials is something that public school health officials say will help beat the stigma. “I think it’s important for them to feel confident in what the changes are in their body and to know that there is no reason to be embarrassed that this is a natural part of growing up and becoming a woman and they should be proud of that,” said Kathy Frisch, the Health Services Supervisor for Wicomico County Public Schools.
The packing party for Monday’s supplies will take place on Friday. To see all the projects completed in the Presidential Scholars Program, you can attend the PACE showcase on April 25th.
