Pink Bags: Local group hands out 1,300 period kits to students
Volunteers in eastern Jackson County are filling makeup bags with hygiene supplies to ensure girls have access to products during their first period.
By Marek Collins ·
Laylan Pennel started The Pink Bag Project in 2024 to reduce the embarrassment young girls often feel during their first period. She collects period products and places them into upcycled Ipsy makeup bags. The goal is to make these supplies available when a girl needs them, not later.
The group has packed an estimated 1,300 of these bags so far. Volunteers deliver them to schools, libraries, and other community locations in eastern Jackson County, including Blue Springs and Grain Valley. Pennel believes that having a small bag accessible can make a big difference for a student in a new situation.
Pennel noted that some teachers currently pay out of their own pockets to ensure students have the necessary supplies. She stated, "So we want to make sure that no matter where they are, they have access to supplies if they need them the first time, if they need them the second time. We're not going to limit any of that." The project aims to remove the financial burden from educators and the stress from students.
The initiative relies on donations to keep the bags stocked. Pennel said she started the effort after realizing how difficult it could be for a young girl to manage a period without the right items nearby. The bags are designed to be discreet and easy to carry.
Those who wish to donate products or volunteer can join the project's Facebook group. The organization continues to distribute the kits throughout the community.
The 1,300 bags represent a tangible response to a common gap in school supplies. The project operates on a simple premise: if a girl has a period, she should have the supplies she needs.
Source: KSHB 41
