Bridging Gaps: Send Tampons to Oglala Lakota County

We are proud to work with Real Talk: WOC & Allies to identify opportunities for white folks and others with privilege to help bridge gaps and return resources to black and native people in the United States. We’re happy to bring all of our members their current call to action:

Oglala Lakota County, South Dakota― which encompasses most of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation’s 3,469 square miles ― is the third-poorest county in the United States. Tampons and sanitary pads can be an unaffordable expense, causing menstruating girls to skip school for days or even a week. This leads to lower grades and more frequent drop outs.

Because of limited access to stores in the area and feminine products being taxed 4.5% as a “luxury” in South Dakota, a box of tampons costs twice as much on many reservations as it does at the nearest Walmart.

Thanks to Real Talk members’ donations and shares, OVER 400 boxes of pads and tampons have been sent to Pine Ridge! We hope that the Together We Will USA network will help grow this number!

HOW YOU CAN HELP

1. To directly help girls continue to go to school and support the women of Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, go to this Amazon Wish List:http://a.co/dM162zc Select the items you’d like to purchase, add them to your cart. When you are done, click “Proceed to Checkout.” Be sure to select “Babette Thin Elk’s Gift Registry Address” for the shipping address. Continue through the Amazon payment process to pay for and ship the items you’ve selected. Several Products are available as Subscribe & Save from Amazon Prime. Please consider setting up a subscription to Pine Ridge so they receive donations from you monthly, bimonthly, etc. (1–6 month options). Contact cariann_c@hotmail.com for shipping address and details.
2. One Spirit is a Native American service organization founded to assist and support American Indians. They distribute menstrual supplies and other essentials to Pine Ridge and other Native American reservations. Donate here:http://www.nativeprogress.org/en/help-now
3. Set your Amazon Smilehttps://smile.amazon.com/ charity donation to One Spirit (Services to Promote the Independence of Specific Populations Rapid City, SD). You can purchase via Smile by searching “Find A List Or Registry” for Real Talk’s wish list.

GET INVOLVED!

Feminine hygiene products are not taxed in the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. Connecticut will stop taxing these products in July 1, 2018. Alaska, Delaware, New Hampshire, Montana, and Oregon do not have state sales tax.

In South Dakota, tampons and pads are taxed as a “luxury” at a rate of 4.5%.
If your state still taxes feminine hygiene products, contact your state legislator to urge them to stop taxing these basic necessities. Find your local legislator here: https://openstates.org/find_your_legislator/

Suggested script:

Hello, I am calling/emailing to urge Representative [NAME] to follow the lead of states such as Illinois, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania by ending sales tax on feminine hygiene products. These items are a necessity — not an option, not a luxury item — and should be treated as such. Eliminating this tax is simply the fair and equal thing to do.

Be sure to provide your name and address so your call or email will be logged.

Thank you to all who donate and share.