NoC News
PRESS RELEASE — After discovering that incarcerated females in Kentucky prisons have limited access to adequate feminine supplies, Transylvania University student Lillie Beiting began a drive to outfit one prison with a supply of feminine hygiene products. Working in tandem with campus nurse Laina Smith, Beiting donated 13 cases of feminine supplies to a local women’s prison.
“Most people don’t realize that incarcerated females have to pay for their access to sufficient feminine supplies,” says Beiting. “And when you’re in prison, finding $5 to pay for a box of tampons can be really difficult. After working with former inmates as a volunteer drug rehabilitation counselor through my work, I discovered this basic lack of hygiene in prisons. Because of the limited budgets prisons receive, many facilities are unable to supply their inmates with sufficient hygiene products.”
Appalled by the lack of access to sufficient feminine supplies, Beiting used avenues presented to her through one of Transylvania University’s interdisciplinary courses, “Health Studies Seminar.” Under the guidance of Transylvania professors Jamie Day and Mark Jackson, Beiting contacted campus nurse Laina Smith, who generously donated surplus quantities of feminine supplies on behalf of the university to the prison. With the help of three other girls in her class, Beiting delivered thirteen cases to the Kentucky Correctional Institute for Women in Pewee Valley, Kentucky.
“While I’m really pleased that we could help the prison with this initial donation,” Beiting said, “13 cases isn’t nearly enough to permanently fix this problem. Still, I’m very grateful for all of the help I received from Transylvania University, and for the excellent interactions with the administration at the Kentucky Correctional Institute for Women.”
For more information on how you can help with this women’s health project, contact Lillie Beiting at embeiting12@transy.edu.
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