We are Mya Abdelwahab and Nicole Soret, two juniors at The Young Women's Leadership School of Astoria, and the co-founders of a social movement called “Femstrate.” Femstrate’s mission is to bring menstrual period equality to every school in New York City and beyond.

We are calling upon the NYC Department of Education to make feminine hygiene products, already purchased by schools, available to the public at Meal Hubs throughout New York City. These items are currently sitting in supply closets and nurse’s offices throughout New York City schools and the NYC DOE should implement an immediate plan to offer these critical supplies to any New Yorker in need.

Public assistance programs like food stamps do not cover these vital items although they are a necessity for over half of our population. With schools closing across the State, many have lost the only resource for period products that was available to them.

In a time of crisis it is incumbent upon us to remember that the need for menstrual period equality does not stop. Feminine hygiene products are essential to the women and girls of New York. 

This crucial cause has been publicly endorsed by Assemblywoman Catherine Maloney, Congresswoman Grace Meng, Assemblywoman Aravella Simotas, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, and State Senator Julia Salazar.