As part of Women’s History Month, United Way of Central Alabama (UWCA) is seeking donations of tampons, pads, panty liners and other menstrual products as part of a Period Supply Drive which runs from March 8th to 29th. The event was organized after a poll of United Way partner agencies showed that the supplies are in critical need locally.
UWCA is taking donations on-site in Jefferson County, while five different partner agencies will serve as collection sites in each of the other counties served by UWCA. Additionally, Central Alabama residents may donate by purchasing items through an Amazon Wishlist or by donating funds specifically to the supply drive by visiting uwca.org/perioddrive.
By county, the physical drop-off locations include:
- Blount – Blount County Children’s Center
106 1st W in Oneonta - Chilton – YMCA of Chilton County
405 Ollie Ave. in Clanton - Jefferson – Alice Williams Building, UWCA Campus
3620 8th S in Birmingham - Shelby – Shelby Emergency Assistance
160 Shoshone Dr. in Montevallo - St. Clair – St. Clair County DHR
213 Fox Hollow Blvd. in Pell City - Walker – Chamber of Commerce of Walker County
204 19th E, Ste. 101 in Jasper
Rachael Upton, Director of United Way Hands On, said now is the perfect time to collect these supplies.
“In Central Alabama, we are told by organizations big and small that these supplies are in serious need. More than half the population here experiences periods,” Upton said, “so it’s important that we step up to support the members of our community who may have limited or no access to these supplies.”
After collection ends on March 29th, volunteers will assemble kits to be distributed to numerous organizations in need of the period products, including shelters for women and children, youth mentoring programs, schools and other community-assistance agencies.
The Period Supply Drive is being hosted by UWCA with the support of United Way Hands On (UWCA’s Volunteer Center) and Women United, a UWCA leadership network of women who volunteer and work to move our community forward.
To view the Amazon Wishlist for the Period Supply Drive, go to https://amzn.to/3TlM7hw.