Carefree School Days. Period.

Tamara Abney, Mrs. Pennsylvania International 2024

"The Period Hero"

Welcome to the official landing page dedicated to Carefree School Days. Period., the platform of our founder, Tamara Abney, who proudly holds the title of Mrs. Pennsylvania International 2024. With a deep commitment to ensuring that young people have access to the menstrual products, education, and resources they need to thrive, Tamara's platform aims to tackle a crucial issue that affects countless individuals around the world. Period poverty is a widespread and often overlooked problem that can have serious consequences for individuals' health, education, and overall well-being. As Mrs. International, Tamara believes she can leverage her platform to spread awareness, advocate for change, and mobilize support on a global scale.

Join us in the fight to create Carefree School Days for all – because every child deserves the opportunity to succeed, regardless of their period.

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Goals

As Mrs. Pennsylvania International and aspiring Mrs. International, Tamara Abney's goals for the year are centered on three key pillars: Distribution, Education, and Advocacy. Through strategic distribution efforts, she aims to ensure widespread access to menstrual hygiene products, particularly in schools, shelters, and underserved communities. Concurrently, Tamara is committed to providing comprehensive menstrual health education to individuals of all ages, empowering them with knowledge and resources to make informed choices about their health. Additionally, she plans to advocate for policy changes that promote menstrual equity and address the systemic barriers that perpetuate period poverty.

Throughout her journey, Tamara remains steadfast in upholding the values of the International Pageant system – Marriage, Family, and Service – as she strives to make a tangible difference in the lives of others.

The Work

Distribution

Distribution efforts focus on providing essential menstrual hygiene products to those in need through two key initiatives: "My First Period Kits" and The Period Party Challenge.

My First Period Kits:

These kits are thoughtfully curated packages containing menstrual hygiene products, educational materials, and other essentials to help young individuals navigate their first periods with confidence and dignity.

Period Party Challenge: Encourages community involvement through the Period Party Challenge, a social media campaign aimed at raising awareness and collecting donations for menstrual hygiene products. By hosting product drives and donating to local organizations, individuals can join the movement to combat period poverty and promote menstrual equity.

Sponsor a Kit

Download the Toolkit

Education

Empowering individuals with knowledge and information about menstrual health through various educational initiatives.

Empowered Period Series:

Join Tamara on Instagram and YouTube for her Empowered Period Series, where she shares informative and engaging content on topics related to menstrual health, hygiene, and empowerment. Through these platforms, Tamara aims to break the silence surrounding menstruation and provide valuable insights to individuals of all ages.

Period Posse Book:

As the author of "Period Posse: Embracing Change and Empowering Others," Tamara Abney has harnessed the power of education to dismantle taboos surrounding menstruation. Through relatable characters, readers embark on a path of friendship, growth, and advocacy. Join The Period Posse as they navigate adolescence, break stigmas, and champion menstrual education.

Get Book

Advocacy

Recognized leader in the menstrual equity space, advocating for policy changes and initiatives to promote menstrual health and hygiene for all.

Trusted Source:

Tamara serves as a trusted source of information for government officials on issues related to menstrual equity. She actively engages with policymakers at the local, state, and national levels to raise awareness about the importance of menstrual health and advocate for policy reforms that address period poverty.

Public Meetings and Policy:

SisterFriend, Inc. hosts public meetings and informational sessions to keep community members informed about new policies and initiatives related to menstrual equity.

Support for Legislative Proposals:

A vocal supporter of legislative proposals aimed at advancing menstrual equity. She is currently supporting the historic $3 million proposal to include menstrual equity initiatives in the 2024 Pennsylvania Governor's Budget Proposal.

Learn More

Period Hero

Exciting news!

Tamara Abney has been recognized as the Pennsylvania Period Hero by Always and Walmart. They've acknowledged the crucial work she's doing with SisterFriend, Inc. to address period poverty in the community and offered their support. As part of their back-to-school campaign, Always and Walmart donated a total of 2.5 million pads to organizations like Tamara's across all 50 states in the U.S. SisterFriend, Inc. received 50,000 pads. Tamara is proud to be a part of this wonderful initiative to make a meaningful difference.

This Spring, Tamara will receive an additional donation from Always to support the "My First Period Kit" project.