Thurston County Girls Testify in Olympia After Raising Money for Free Feminine Products in School Restrooms

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Taboo-busting duo Audrey Williams, 14, and Izzy Masias, 13, have started a project called NoProblem.Period in response to a need they saw at their school for more accessible feminine products in the girls' restrooms.

The two Rochester Middle School students started a GoFundMe account to raise money to purchase tampons, pads, panty liners, wet wipes, bins for disposal, underwear, and black leggings in the case of an accident. The supplies will be free in the restrooms, eliminating the stress that can accompany periods especially for middle-school aged girls who often start their period for the first time while at school.

“We supply four sizes of pads, three sizes of tampons, five sizes of leggings, and many sizes of underwear,” said Williams.

Williams said that teachers ask them how their project is going and everyone at school has been supportive. The girls said that they want to eliminate any worry about having access to feminine products and make periods less stressful for their classmates.

“The topic has been a little bit more normalized at our school,” Williams said.

The project gained the attention of the state and the girls were asked to testify at the Capitol Building in Olympia. On Jan. 17, 2020, the duo testified in front of the Washington Senate Committee on Early Learning and K-12 Education in favor of Senate Bill 6073, which, if passed, would require public schools in the state to supply free feminine hygiene products in the school restrooms. 

They prepared a short speech to give in front of the Senate committee which touched on their project, the need they saw at their school and why they support the bill. 

Many people have donated to Williams’ and Masias’ cause and they have raised over $3,000 which they will use to keep the restrooms stocked. The girls created signs that will be placed near the supplies that encourage everyone to take what they need but not to take advantage of the free items.

“All the money from the GoFundMe goes toward products that we are putting, for free, in the school bathrooms. Anybody can take we they need,” Masias said.



Both girls said they realize that some families may not be able to afford feminine products and they don’t think anyone should have to struggle when it comes to having feminine products.

The school currently has a pad and tampon dispenser on the wall that costs 25 cents, but the girls said that it doesn’t give teens a choice to use different products.

“Coming from the father’s perspective it was really mind-blowing to me that this was an issue. Once she started showing me the issues and some of the challenges that come along with it I was kind of surprised that some sort of action hadn’t already been taken,” said Masias’ father, Tony.

The girls said that they will keep a count of what is used and the costs of everything so that they can keep everything stocked, as well as share the information with girls from other schools so they can set up the program at their school.

“I knew one girl recently that had to go to the office to get (a feminine product) and she said that it was super embarrassing,” said Masias.

The duo plans to speak at an assembly for all the girls at Rochester Middle School on Tuesday, explaining that the feminine supplies will be available for them and then they will put the supplies out in the restrooms.

“They really thought of everything down to having leggings available in case girls leak. They just wanted plain and simple black leggings so it doesn’t draw any attention. They really thought about how to make girls the most comfortable,” said Williams’ mother, Rebecca. 

The girls have plans to help girls at other schools get this program started at their school. They want to make a “starter kit” that will explain how to get started fundraising, cost of items and cost of restocking and upkeep.  

Donations can be made and more information can be found at noproblemperiod.com.