LEXINGTON, S.C. — A local nonprofit welcomed guests for the Delivering Digni-Tea Party. Revolution Red hosted the Bridgeton-themed party, which was all about ending period poverty in our community.
“We are celebrating one year of delivering dignity to the women and girls right here in our community,” Shay Turman said.
Turman is the CEO and founder of Revolution Red, a local nonprofit tackling period poverty in the Midlands.
“So many women and girls are in need right now because they get their periods monthly. They don't have the pads and tampons they need. One and four women between the ages of 12 and 50 live below the federal poverty line. Even if they did get government assistance, there is just not a voucher, there's nothing that could assist them with getting those products,” Turman said.
The organization hosted the Delivering Digni-Tea Party on Saturday. Guests were invited to a party inspired by the Netflix series Bridgerton. Attendees learned about ways they could support women and girls in need.
“It all starts with education. Events like this give the opportunity to educate," Turman said. "A lot of times, people don't talk about periods. It's so taboo, and so, we're all about breaking that stigma and breaking that taboo, having a conversation. People are suffering in silence. That's really what period poverty is all about. not having the materials and the products you need and not being able to talk about it.”
Guests showed off their best-themed outfits and brought menstrual products that will be donated.
“We invited friends that maybe didn't hear about it before because we want to bring awareness to the situation and it is an issue here at home,” Jackie Banton said.
Another guest, Constance Edgerton, admires the work the organization does.
“We know, as women ourselves, that the stigma of not being able to have those products when you need available can be embarrassing to ask for if you need them and so for someone to put them in different locations and people that want to volunteer to actually give to those,” Edgerton said.
While progress has been made in South Carolina, specifically with the end of the tax on menstrual products earlier this year, Turman says the work has only just begun.
“The journey is far from over. That was a big win with the tax being taken away, but we've seen so many struggles since we started this platform of people using things like socks or toilet paper as pads or using no pads at all,” she said. "It's dangerous; it opens them up for infections like toxic shock syndrome. It leaves them susceptible to things like being overlooked for positions on jobs or being left behind in school, and it all just starts with something that their body can’t control."
