ELKINS, W.Va. — Davis Health System (DHS) has launched a new program for teenage girls. Girls in Randolph County schools will receive free feminine products to address issues that may interfere with their learning time.

“Our goal is to have menstrual product kits available at all schools in our service area so that when or if students have an incident related to their period, or simply start their period without the supplies they need at hand, there is a resource for them to deal with the situation,” said Dr. Anne Banfield, DHS Director of Women’s Health Services.

The new program called Period Packs will provide free products to students.

Davis Health System hopes to expand its program across its entire service area, as a 2021 study found that 500 million women lacked access to feminine hygiene products.

“As the program becomes operational, we’d be happy to provide a list of items we’ll include in periodic packs and accept community donations for those items,” Banfield said.

Community members can donate supplies to the program at Davis Health System in Elkins.

The program aims to promote the importance of good female health and to limit time spent in class due to accidents.

“We don’t want students to have to drop out of school or miss classes because of lack of school supplies.
schools or lack of affordable supplies – not everyone can afford to use a product vending machine, if the
the machine is even available,” Banfield said. “I want to make sure that menstruation is not a reason why menstruating people in our schools have to leave school or have poor/potentially traumatic experiences.”

The kits will be available in discreet locations at the discretion of each school in the program.