From November 17, 2017, to January 2, 2018, Project FIRE, which stands for “Feminism: Inclusion, Rights, Equality,” hosted a pad and tampon drive in order to help hurricane victims in Puerto Rico. The group began in order to promote gender equality and counter the heightened sexism resulting from the most recent election season. The donated pads and tampons were sent to Legion of Goodwill, an organization that has contributed to many relief efforts.

Although Hurricane Maria made landfall back in late September, additional help is still needed. The Category 4 hurricane left Puerto Rico desperate for outside aid in order to reconstruct itself after the extreme devastation. “We can’t forget about the thousands of people who are in great need of our assistance and we need to continue to support them throughout the year,” said Ms. Elise Caldarola, an adviser of Project FIRE. She urged the Bronx Science community to donate to the drive in order to alleviate the stress produced by the hurricane’s destruction.

“It’s important to change that mindset throughout the country. Periods don’t stop for hurricanes, nor do they stop for flooding, so no one’s period should be an inconvenience to how they live their lives,” said Chloe Frajmund ’19.

When most people think about hurricane relief, they often list food, clean water, electricity, and healthcare as the most pressing issues. While these essentials are very important, other urgent needs are often neglected.

For women between the ages of about ten to fifty five, menstruation is a monthly process that is completely unavoidable. Without using necessary sanitary products, women can contract serious infections that can become fatal.

With a population constisting of nearly two million women, the majority of whom fall between normal menstruation ages, many Puerto Ricans could potentially suffer from these dire consequences. Many people view feminine hygiene products as luxury items rather than necessities, causing them to be neglected in hurricane relief efforts.

“It’s important to change that mindset throughout the country. Periods don’t stop for hurricanes, nor do they stop for flooding, so no one’s period should be an inconvenience to how they live their lives,” said Chloe Frajmund ’19, a member of Project FIRE.

Bronx Science students did not shy away from the chance to help out.

Donator Mazed Hossain ’19 stated, “I believe that everyone should have access to necessities. The victims of the Hurricane may now find themselves lacking these necessities or have difficulty acquiring them.”

Project FIRE’s goal was to collect one hundred boxes of pads and tampons by the beginning of January 2018. The early weeks of the drive were very successful and the group received many donations, leaving a lot of hope that they would reach their goal.

Project FIRE is grateful to everyone that donated and hopes that Bronx Science’s contribution will help all of those in need.