Humanity Support USA Inc

Humanity Support USA a non profit 501(c)3 organization was founded in July 2016 by Reena and Rita after an encounter with Mitchelle 16 years old and Nicole 14years old at a Wal-Mart store
These young women approach us with a smile asking if we could please buy them sanitary pad as they were currently on their menstrual period and using toilet paper. I was prompt to ask them some questions and they told me their story of how they normally uses toilet roll during the summer holiday or weekend for their period because their mother cannot afford buying a sanitary pad for them from her little earnings and always tell them that they have an alternative by using toilet roll which she uses as well. This was touching and disturbing to us as we wonder the numbers of girls and women out there with same story.
We carried out research in schools in Texas and the result was overwhelming this brought about the formation of Humanity Support USA and the introduction of the Girl's Care Initiative Project a pet project of Humanity Support USA which aim at giving out free sanitary pad to girls and women from low income homes in Texas
Humanity Support USA provides the essential elements and interconnected methods needed to meet the complex, diverse needs of girls/women, particularly those from low-income and under-resourced communities.
OUR SOLUTION
At Humanity Support USA, we focus on the development of the "whole girl/women." She learns to value herself, take risks, and discover and develop her inherent strengths. Our combination of long-lasting mentoring relationships, a pro-girl/all-girl environment, and research-based programming equips girls/women to navigate gender, economic, and social barriers and be prepared for success
Who we serve
The girls/women we serve reflect the diversity of our community: 45% Hispanic, 34% African American, 13% White, 3% Asian, and 5% other.
The majority of the girls/women enrolled in our programs come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds:
• 82% are identified as low-to-moderate income.
• 71% live in households with family incomes under $30,000.
• Many of our girls live in single parent households and lack access to experiences that engage them and maintain their motivation for success
IMPACT
HSU has been in the frontline of providing free sanitary pad to girls and women in Dallas
HSU has installed pad dispenser in some schools in Dallas Texas and we received an overwhelmingly positive response big enough to expand the program.
HSU has served over 2,500 girl's and women from low income families in schools and various apartment communities in north Dallas
Increased attendance rates have already been reported from neighborhood schools in communities already benefitting from the program in north Dallas

Our Needs

THE ISSUE ON THE GIRLS CARE INITIATIVE -(OUR PET PROJECT)
The project is aimed at providing free sanitary pad to girls/women from low income homes.
Though it's a crisis that has long been documented in developing countries, many don't realize it's also a problem closer to home. In the U.S., nearly one in five kids aged 12-17 live in poverty. At $4 to $10 a package, plus sales tax ,a month's supply of something as simple as a box of pad can be one expense too many for low income families
On top of all the physical inconveniences of having a period, there also is a financial toll. The cost for tampons and pads, which arguably can be categorized as necessities, amounts to a regressive tax on women around the world
In many schools, girls already can get free sanitary products from the nurse's office, the process isn't always a smooth one- "a young girl will have to tell her teacher, tell her counselor, then be sent to the nurse's office, to be given a pad." These processes make them skip class work/lesson while in school.
survey carried out in schools in Texas show as follow
15% of girl's uses re-usable napkins, 30% uses toilet roll, 10% uses both pad and toilet roll and 45% uses sanitary pad.
Most students complained that asking the nurse for sanitary pad makes almost everyone aware that they are on their period and could be embarrassing when the male student become aware of it
Infrequent changing of pad is unhealthy, unsanitary and unsafe. Not using one at all is unthinkable. Giving pad away for free to girls/women from low income families will not only makes it easier for them to manage their periods but it will signals to young women that their needs matter and that their period is an important part of being healthy
Specific measurable goals the project hopes to achieve:
1) Hygiene -Support girls to properly care for their bodies during their periods
2) Healthy Living
3) Assist low income families
According to 2015 estimate in Texas about I3.0% of families and 4.3% of the population live below the poverty line, including 4.6% of those under age 18 this project will ameliorate the dire need of people who fall under the above category
It's hard to be a girl growing up today when you are from a low income family. Peer pressure, Struggles in school, Bullying, Bias, Self-confidence, Economic barriers etc are most of the factors affecting these girls.
Every girl, no matter what her circumstances, deserves experiences that will help enable her to earn her education and become a healthy, independent, and thriving adult.

If something as basic as an easy-to-access sanitary pad can keep girls engaged and productive in school, isn't it worth the investment?
Kindly support and donate to our project