Over the past few weeks, the second annual 'Go With the Flow' Menstrual Product Drive & Benefit partnered with local businesses to raise awareness and funds to reduce the impact of high prices for menstrual hygiene products in Orange County.
Allison De Marco, organizer of the event, classified the high prices and taxation of menstrual products as gender discrimination. Local businesses in Chapel Hill and Carrboro held menstrual product collections over the past two weeks for the event.
“We’ve been doing product collection all week at businesses across the community,” De Marco said. "We've been collecting cash donations but also product donations."
Funds collected benefitted the Inter-Faith Council for Social Service, UNC Horizons Program, Freedom House Recovery Center and Carolina Cupboard: Community Food Pantry.
A major goal of the “Go with The Flow” benefit was to work toward changing the tax laws burdening the purchase of menstrual products. De Marco spoke about the importance of interacting with elected officials to bring attention to the issue.
“We’ve been doing work with (NC Representative) Graig Meyer and the Carrboro Board (of Aldermen) to try to eliminate the luxury tax in North Carolina,” De Marco said. “We’re asking folks to write to the General Assembly, to the chairs of the House and Senate finance committees, who are in charge of taxing and make a request to eliminate the luxury tax on these items.”
Many items in North Carolina which are deemed necessities, such as certain food items and agricultural products, are exempt from a state sales tax. According to a North Carolina State Statute, certain tobacco that is sold between manufacturers is exempt from a state sales tax.
Period products do not qualify for exemption.
In addition to the prices of menstrual products, De Marco spoke about the lack of 24-hour bathroom access in the local community.
