On Saturday, July 11, the Ypsilanti Farmers Market, overseen by Growing Hope, will be hosting a “Free to Bleed with Dignity” event. The goal of this event is to support period positivity, menstrual hygiene, and equitable access to information and resources.
Annalee Miklosek, Growing Hope’s Farmers Market Assistant Manager, told The Echo, “The event was inspired by an open call with the Period Abundance Foundation. They were asking nonprofits to apply for a huge giveaway of sustainable period underwear.”
Miklosek saw the opportunity and knew that this would be a valuable resource for the Ypsilanti community. “We are so close with the Ypsi community and offer help with vaccines, childcare, and even financial planning, so I thought this would fit well,” she said.
Growing Hope was thrilled to hear that they were chosen for the giveaway and decided to plan a whole day around it, Miklosek said.
At the event, Growing Hope, Planned Parenthood, and other health organizations will be giving away more than 200 pairs of sustainable period underwear sizing XS to 2XL from The Period. Company as well as over 700 drink packets of flavored creatine and electrolyte supplements, known to help with PMS symptoms, from Create Wellness.
“We’re really excited. We’ve been very intentional about making it very gender neutral. This is a no-questions-asked free giveaway. It’s for anybody who menstruates or even people who want to give them to someone at home,” Miklosek said. “This is something that I really care about and destigmatizing periods is really important.”
There will also be plenty of educational health resources and experts to answer questions.
Visitors can also enjoy a clay workshop and button making station themed around period positivity and equitable access to resources.
The farmers market will take place on the street and the Free to Bleed with Dignity event will be inside of Marketplace Hall at 16 S. Washtenaw from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
