Lynchburg woman starts 'Period Pantry' for young ladies in Lynchburg City Schools

New initiative gives students free access to essential feminine supplies

LYNCHBURG, Va. – A local woman is making life a little easier for young women in Lynchburg city schools. The new initiative is giving students access to essential feminine supplies.

For some women, this comes once a month, and when it’s that time of the month, it’s about being comfortable. 

"Kids come in lots of different shapes and sizes and their needs are different,” said Jenny Poore.

Period Pantry, founded by Poore, has benefited hundreds of young ladies in Lynchburg city schools.

"Words can't describe how grateful I am and the rest of the females here at E.C. Glass. Some people don't think that's a serious issue,” Destini Robertson, senior at E.C. Glass High School, said.Destini Robertson, senior at E.C. Glass High School, said.

Many students in Lynchburg are living in poverty and can't afford menstrual supplies.

“A lot of them aren't even having breakfast. They maybe didn't have dinner the night before. This is honestly on their last list of things to think about. And if they are thinking about it and if they're worrying about it. I wanted to get rid of that worry for them,” Poore said.

When school nurses request pads for students they're sent boxes with one pad inside and nurses ran out quickly. But walk into the nurses’ office and you'll find the period pantry bin at every middle and high school in the city.

“At least 20 if not 25 times a day, they'll come and ask me, if it's the first time or they'll come and whisper 'Do you have any pads?' (and I'll say,) 'Yes, honey help yourself, it's over there,’” Courtney Langlois, school nurse at E.C. Glass High School, said.

To keep this effort going, Poore started with $1,500 and as of Thursday, she had $500 left. She's set a goal on GoFundMe page to raise $4,000 by December to expand to alternative schools and keep providing menstrual supplies for the young ladies in Lynchburg city schools.

If you'd like to help. Go to this link: https://www.gofundme.com/period-pantry-lynchburg.