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funding in the current budget to help
provide feminine hygiene products for
low-income students. The work and
dedication of Macon Periods Easier
takes that a step further to ensure no
female students lack access to these
products during school.
"This is so important because each
day of instruction missed can impact a
student's achievement, and this support
means students won't have to choose
between school or staying home due to
lack of products."
Looking to the future of the
organization, MPE leadership member
Erin Hawkins said she hopes to
continue reaching more women in need
– in Macon and surrounding counties –
and meeting the challenges of storage
space and funding.
"Our current challenges are having
space to hold all of our donations
and be able to host packing parties,"
Hawkins said. "We also have the
challenge of not having the funds to buy
things like storage containers, paying
for gas for deliveries and other supply/
maintenance things a group needs. We
are all volunteers at this time, but hope
to soon be a nonprofit and be able to
have a salaried executive director."
As for Cox, she continues to support
MPE while working to eliminate the
tax on period products. She said many
people ask her why she chooses to work
to eliminate the "tampon tax" with all
the "more important" issues she could
focus her time and energy toward.
"The answer is," she said, "it is
a gateway for getting the public to
talk and to think about the wider
implications of menstruation – social,
economic and otherwise in our policy
making."
Thanks to Cox and MPE, that
conversation locally is well underway.
"THIS SUPPORT MEANS
STUDENTS WON'T HAVE
TO CHOOSE BETWEEN
SCHOOL OR STAYING
HOME DUE TO LACK OF
PRODUCTS."
- DR. CURTIS JONES
