State Rep. Attica Scott has introduced legislation to abolish the 6% "period tax" and requiring state universities to provide menstrual products free of charge to students.  Thank you to Rep. Scott for bringing this fight to Frankfort and the state at large!!

     I spent Thursday and Friday, March 15 & 16, in Berea, Ky. at the Kentucky Rural Health Initiative Grant Writing Workshop.  Most of the other attendees were from out in the state and were in larger community health organizations.  I was an anomaly in that I was from a startup nonprofit and from an urban area.  Even though I wasn't the target audience I came away from the workshop with a ton of invaluable information and lots of new contacts.  
     I felt lucky to be focused on one thing.  Most of the people I met are initiating needle exchanges, running opioid addiction programs, battling pandemic hepatitis C levels and still handling black lung cases.  Their stories and insights gave me hope for our state's future and pride in the people fighting on the front lines everyday despite dwindling resources.  
     I was also reminded that we are to think globally but act locally.  The Ky Period Project has given out almost 4000 products to women in need since the middle of December 2016.  I am proud of this number and the people who have come together to make this happen.  I  keep getting unexpected donations both big and small from all sorts of places and want everyone to know that their generosity has directly affected women and girls in a very personal way.  Our goals and outreach are growing every month and we need your continual help whether big or small!

     This morning at the Love Transformation Project there was a young woman with Down's syndrome.  She appeared to be well taken care of by her friends and in that I guess I would say she is lucky.  The young man with her affirmed that she was in need of pads and tampons and accepted them.  How did we reach the point in our city where she is on the streets?  How long ago did we reach it?  How many people pass her on the street every day and look the other way?  
     We made four dozen scrambled eggs this morning.  It was not enough.  There were three long tables of clothes.  It was not enough.  There were go bags with snacks and fruit.  It was not enough.  Seeing her and everyone else there on a weekly basis means confronting this fact.  It is not enough.  It never will be.  On the other hand, we met some lovely people, fed some lovely people, equipped some people to have a slightly better, warmer, safer, cleaner week.  And for that I am grateful.