JWN Foundation tripled its period poverty donation efforts last week and distributed over 1,800 menstrual kits through their staff volunteer network across three parishes — Clarendon, St Elizabeth, and Kingston — as part of their #endperiodpoverty campaign.

Institutions such as Seaview Gardens Primary in Kingston, Race Course Primary in Clarendon and Bogue All-Age in St Elizabeth are just a few of those that will benefit from the donation. The foundation said it started focusing on the issue in 2020 based on the experience of working in communities where many young girls are unable to afford the cost of sanitary napkins. That year, the foundation donated 650 menstrual care packages to 12 institutions.

Since its inception, the JWN Foundation has donated 9,472 sanitary products, aiding 5,075 women across 20 institutions.

International Women’s Day 2024 was celebrated March 8 under the theme ‘Inspire Inclusion’, emphasising the importance of women being included and feeling a sense of belonging, relevance, and empowerment. JWN said it chose to dedicate the entire month of March to women. As part of the celebrations, the company hosted its ‘Spirited Women’ luncheon to honour remarkable and resilient women, while simultaneously launching the annual ‘end period poverty’ campaign. From collaboration with the women honored, nearly $300,000 cash and in-kind support was pledged towards the foundation’s expanded efforts.

“I never realised the struggles some women were going through,” said honouree Anna Liao, owner of National Self-Serve Wholesale. “Some of these things we take for granted because it’s just a part of life, but my eyes were opened during the luncheon when I watched the video showcasing the work that the JWN Foundation has been doing over the years, so I had to contribute. I had to play my part. It’s something I think we must do to help the many young girls that are struggling.”

Tanikie McClarthy Allen, CEO of the JWN Foundation, said she was very happy with the increased support by the Spirited Women to expand and extend the reach of the period poverty campaign.

“We are proud of the extra support being extended by the Spirited Women to expand the reach of this campaign to reach even more girls. As little as $1,000 can help one girl with three months’ supply, so imagine the collective support of many and what that will do to these young women whose lives we will be touching,” she said.

“Along with T Geddes Grant as one of our trusted partners, I’m also happy to share that this year we can afford to increase and expand the offering to each girl, so aside from the sanitary napkins, we provided wipes, and a convenient pouch to maintain privacy while at the same time helping the girls to form healthy habits of being prepared for their cycles.”

She said this year’s expansion is part of continued support to ending period poverty, and the JWN Foundation believes that by empowering women and providing them with the necessary resources, they can make a significant difference in their lives.

JWN Foundation operates under three pillars — education, culture and social inclusion — and focuses its attention in areas surrounding its business operations at Spanish Town Road in Kingston, New Yarmouth in Clarendon, and Appleton Estate in St Elizabeth.