Life & Work with Becca Houlehan and Izzy Zschoche

Today we’d like to introduce you to Becca Houlehan and Izzy Zschoche.

Hi, Becca and Izzy. We’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
Equity.Period. began as—and truly remains—a grassroots effort. As first-year students at an all-girls high school, we talked about menstrual inequity, which has evolved organically from there. At first, we only gathered period products for two locations: to place baskets in our high school’s bathrooms and to donate to a drop-in shelter downtown. A short while later, we connected with several school nurses and social workers, arranging deliveries for them. We next reached out to coordinators for Free Hot Soup (FHS) of Kansas City to see if period kits would be something we could donate to those dealing with housing insecurity. That ask was met with an emphatic yes, so we began making and taking kits to the picnics ourselves. We set up next to a couple who shared their farm-fresh goodies, clothing, and shoes for the attendees. Our station is unassuming, with two plastic tubs full of zippered kits, one for tampons and one for pads.

We can consolidate the products with the kits and often include personal wipes. We’ve received hundreds of donated makeup bags. We use the large ones for FHS and take or ship the smaller ones to area schools. The students appreciate having them organize and carry their products. We also gather and donate small retail bags so students can discreetly take products home, especially before long breaks. There is no shortage of places to donate period products. In the last two years, we’ve contacted DV shelters, drop-in shelters, schools, and free clinics. Last year, we were able to help a refugee support group in need of products for a large group.

Just as we support our community, our community has helped us. To gather the much-needed products, we have bake sales, set up an Amazon wishlist, and make asks to family, friends, and strangers. Another grassroots movement is a big supporter of our local Buy Nothing groups. They function primarily on Facebook. As you’d expect, our efforts soon expanded to address other facets of menstrual inequity. Once we realized the complex issue, we started brainstorming ways that we, two high school students, could make even more impact. It soon became so much more than providing products for those in need once we realized the complex issue. During our second year, as sophomores, we began to connect with varied organizations to have a legislative impact. Our third primary goal is to encourage a conversation about periods and products in general to create a cultural shift around the topic. How can we address the inequities if it’s too taboo to discuss in the first place?

Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
As with any donation-based effort, one challenge is feeling overwhelmed. There is so much need, but we must remind ourselves we can only do what we can. And while we can’t completely eradicate menstrual inequity, we can make sure our peers in Kansas City don’t have to miss school or extracurriculars. Burnout is also real. We make sure to balance our time outside of school with Equity.Period. and time with friends and relaxing. With limited resources, sometimes, we are asked for orders that out-strip our capacity to deliver. Saying no to anyone in need is hard, but we are limited by resources – as is any organization.

Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
We love connecting with like-minded community members and initiatives, so please don’t hesitate to reach out. We have given presentations and participated in panels to help raise awareness. We’re all in this together.

What matters most to you?
What matters is our work and its impact on the local menstruators in our community, making sure no one has to feel underprepared or ashamed of their menses and providing an avenue for others to help. We’ve had school nurses who’ve benefited from our donations suggest more and more nurses who likewise have a school population in need. We’ve sought to support other charitable organizations and hope our community connections will continue growing through word of mouth and by example. These connections matter to us. The feedback from school nurses matters to us. We are high school students and want to ensure our peers don’t have to worry about missing class or extracurriculars due to bodily function. We value our education immensely. Knowing that our peers in the Kansas City area have to miss school due to a lack of period products is heartbreaking. Everyone should have unhindered access to education. We know many barriers exist, so we’re driven to remove this one barrier for as many students as possible. Further, lack of access to period products also affects menstruators in the workplace – not just school-aged kids. Periods are a normal part of life and nothing to be ashamed of.

Contact Info:

• Website: equity-period.org
• Instagram: @equity_period

Image Credits
Brittany Zschoche, Sally Morrow, Katherine Houlehan