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The Week of Action, June 16-21, is an annual event at UWRC, but this is the second year in a row itÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ™s focused on period poverty. In previous years, it was a volunteer-focused event, during which people would paint murals, do landscaping and do other activities for local organizations.

Stacey Norman, community impact coordinator at UWRC, said the organization decided to shift the Week of Action focus to menstrual care because of the need.

There are other local organizations and initiatives dedicated to helping people in poverty, but none specifically focused on this issue, she said. In addition, West Virginia is one of the 20 states still charging a sales tax on period products in 2025.

UWRCÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ™s goal for this year is to create 2,000 menstrual hygiene kits that will be distributed across Cabell, Lincoln, Mason and Wayne counties in West Virginia, and Gallia and Lawrence counties in Ohio.

Last year, United Way put together about 1,168 kits that provide about a monthÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ™s worth of supplies. They are sent to other organizations and community donation boxes.

Recipients include BRANCHES Domestic Violence Shelter; Huntington City Mission; Harvest for the Hungry; Marcum Terrace Family Support Center; Court Street Ministries; Lincoln County Family Resource Network; Wayne County Family Resource Network; Backpack Buddies; Mason County Family Resource Center and St. PeterÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ™s Episcopal Community Outreach.

Norman said some of the recipients still have a few kits left from last year, so this initiative fulfills a need for a long time.

ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬœA kit build itself is basically an assembly line, with volunteers grabbing a gallon Ziploc bag and going down the line to fill it with all the products,ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ� she said. ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬœWe also have volunteers draw and write messages of support on zippered canvas pouches that are also added to the kits as a little travel bag to carry their products.ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ�

People can get involved by donating products via an or dropping off donations at the UWRC office at 820 Madison Ave., Huntington. The public can also at an assembly event.

Individuals also can also host a Kit Building Party by contacting Stacey Norman via stacey.norman@unitedwayrivercities.org or 304-523-8929, ext. 118, or they can be a sponsor by contacting Sarah Short via sarah.short@unitedwayrivercities.org or 304-523-8929, ext. 109.

New this year is the fundraiser event at West Edge Factory on June 28. ItÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ™s a 21-and-older event featuring DJ J.R. Clark. Local photographer Most Exalted will be shooting photos and the West Virginia Photo Booth Company will also be there.

Tickets cost $30 and include one drink. There will also be light bites and a candy table, as well as a cash bar. Attendees are encouraged to bring a box of menstrual pads or tampons for the Project Period initiative.