Upon seeing Kylie DeFrance, her mailman approached and inquired as to whether or not she was aware that she had 50 items due for delivery. Dozens more items came the next day, and a second postman inquired as to whether a kid had mistakenly ordered them.
More than 300 cartons of pads, tampons, and menstruation items have been sent to DeFrance, and more are on the way.
While teaching in a Title I school in Austin, DeFrance has many children who qualify for free and reduced meals. However, because of the lack of financial resources, students typically rely on instructors for access to pads and tampons.
DeFrance created an Amazon wish list and placed it on her neighborhood’s Nextdoor website in an effort to raise money from the community. Every month, she forks out $100 to $200 for period supplies that are not reimbursed.
There are many children in our country who are unable to afford all they need, she remarked.
Her surprise came when hundreds of boxes of sanitary products arrived at her door with notes of encouragement from the community members who cared enough to donate.
‘It’s like I’m living in an Amazon warehouse package shop,’ she said.
When DeFrance was given a large amount of materials, she decided to make several period goody bags for her pupils to take home and to share with other teachers. She hopes that by normalizing periods and providing kids with the items they need, they will be able to concentrate on their studies instead of worrying about their periods.
This is “something that they don’t have to think about or be stressed or worried about or uncomfortable,” she added.
Talks about menstruation goods have escalated to the legislative level in recent years, with 24 states eliminating sales taxes on menstrual items including pads and tampons.
Period Law’s creator and executive director, Laura Strausfeld, stated, “I think people sometimes think that removing a sales tax on menstrual products is insignificant.” People who can’t buy in bulk and must purchase on a case-by-case basis will pay a far higher price, as the reality will reveal.
Texas has not yet granted a tax exemption for purchases, but DeFrance said she would continue to support her pupils at the local level, with a few special neighborhood friends now helping out.
Accordingly she mentions that, “When you are supporting a teacher’s Amazon wish list, you’re not just supporting the teacher — you are supporting 100-plus kids that love getting this support, especially from strangers. It’s a really neat feeling. It’s a cool feeling.”