Meet the Northampton woman who is helping to combat period poverty during the pandemic

A local woman who was made aware of additional period poverty issues during the pandemic has started making boxes to help those who are struggling to afford sanitary products.

Leah Merriman, from Duston, makes the boxes, which include tampons, pads and liners, and delivers them locally to vulnerable women who, particularly during the pandemic, cannot afford to buy the essential products.

The 36-year-old has already made 19 boxes, but says she has the products to make more than 100.

Leah said: “I’d been aware of period poverty for a couple of years now, but then I was watching the news about young women and girls not having access to sanitary products because schools and places of work are shut.

“Job losses can also mean it is a financial burden and it just breaks my heart.

“Even if it’s only four or five pound a month, during the pandemic with job losses and poor access to shops and transport, someone on low income might not be able to afford it.

“Four or five pound could buy them and their family a meal and they will always choose food.”

After seeing the news report, Leah started making the boxes a couple of weeks ago and was aiming to make just a few periods better.

But after telling family and friends what she was doing, she was inundated with donation offers.

Within four days she had raised more than £200 and had donations delivered to her home.

Leah added: “I have now made 19 boxes that have gone out, but with all the donations and the money on the JustGiving page, I think I’ll be able to make more than 100.

“Each box contains a selection of towels, tampons and liners and I can personalise them if I know the box is going to a younger girl who may struggle with tampons.

“I also put something in that’s a bit more luxurious.

“A lip balm might not be here nor there for someone who can afford it, but it is something nice that can make a difference to each person.

“It’s good to get the boxes out to say ‘we have not forgotten about you and there are people still here to care and look out for you’.”

Through contacts, Leah has managed to get her boxes out to vulnerable teenagers and to women who rely on food banks or a women’s refugee for their sanitary products.

She hopes that she will be able to continue this project once the pandemic is over as she believes it is really helping people.

To support Leah, donate to her JustGiving page. And if you or someone you know needs a sanitary box, they can confidentially email [email protected].

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