NEBRASKA -- Period poverty stems from a female human anatomy part of life that isn't optional, which drives the need for it to be seen as a public health issue for human decency and for all people who menstruate to reclaim self-respect.  

In America 2 out of every 5 people struggle to afford feminine hygiene products according to a 2021 study conducted by U by Kotex. 

These numbers reflect a trend of period poverty within the state, typically affecting those living beneath the federal poverty line. 

In Nebraska 1 in 8 females ages 12 to 44 live below that line, subjecting over 400,000 women to period poverty, forcing them to undergo unfair setbacks and challenges in their lives. 

"One in 4 girls has had to miss school because they started their period, and they couldn't afford supplies," said Sen. Carol Blood. "We know that something like 10% of college students that are female that have their period have had to miss classes, and work, by the way, because they can't afford the supplies. So, they can't go outside of their homes, for many of them they end up having to utilize things temporarily - like socks." 

To help curb the financial grip of period poverty in the state, Sen. Terrell McKinney introduced original bill LB-881, or better known as "period tax," which exempts sales of feminine hygiene products from sales taxes.  

Although the bill was signed into law in October of 2022, Blood believes that just the tax exemption isn't enough. 

"Removing the tax is not going to be enough, but it does level the playing field," said Blood. "And it's about having an understanding of how this isn't something that is optional for people." 

Blood also attributes period poverty struggles to a lack of agencies where people can find offered products. 

Resource restrictions such as these are what led Suzi Dearmont to starting the hygiene bank Poverty Impact Network in 2020, which serves the people of the Lincoln/Lancaster county area. 

"A lot of these women don't know that there are local resources to help them obtain the products that they need to stay healthy every month as they go through their cycle," said Dearmont. "So, awareness is a big issue for the populations that do need assistance." 

Poverty Impact Network delivers feminine and general hygiene products to 19 agencies helping over 500 individuals a month. 

Dearmont explained it's important to be able to partner with these agencies as hygiene is not always looked at as a primary goal. 

"These agencies typically have a primary mission, so it might be a primary mission to feed people, but assisting these people with hygiene isn't a primary mission for these agencies," said Dearmont. "So, we supplement essentially these agencies by providing hygiene products that they can then distribute." 

In 2023 so far, Poverty Impact Network has distributed over 30,000 products while also seeing an uptick in donations. 

Dearmont said that when females receive their feminine hygiene products, it does more than just help their physical health. 

"Women having the products they need monthly helps support - not just their physical health - but also mental health," Dearmont said. "Because there is a lot of shame that comes along with not being able to afford proper period products, whether you're an adult or whether you're a student."

Poverty Impact Network plans to focus on serving its current area for the foreseeable future, but advises those seeking assistance to utilize its national partner, Alliance for Period Supples, to find other period product suppliers nationally. 

Alliance for Period Supplies also works with another Nebraska based partner called Access Period. 

Access Period works to provide feminine hygiene products to the entire state, with product locations in each of the five Healthy Blue Welcome Rooms in Omaha, Lincoln, Norfolk, Kearney, and Scottsbluff. 

The Poverty Impact Network accepts donations anytime of the year, and Blood said she plans to host another period poverty drive in the coming future.