Category: Uncategorized

November Volunteer of the Month: Varsha Nallabirudu

An interview with Varsha Nallabirudu, Iowa City Operations Lead of Love For Red

December 1, 2023 // By Emma Gaughan

Varsha Nallabirudu is a third-year University of Iowa student, and the Iowa City Lead of Love For Red. She joined Love For Red as a second-year after following the organization on Instagram. 

“I didn’t realize how big of a problem it was. I guess it was just surprising,” Varsha said. 

Varsha attended various events hosted by Love For Red, such as period packing events. After volunteering for a while, she decided that she wanted to get more involved in the organization, especially as operations expanded to Iowa City. 

“Especially in Iowa City, I feel like it’s such a great place— there’s so many different types of student organizations that help. It’s very common to see social justice or volunteering, there’s so many cool opportunities for that,” Varsha said. “It just kind of happened in an organic way.” 

Varsha also likes the environment of Love For Red. Weekly meetings are a comfortable and welcoming space, and she shared that it’s a safe space for everyone to just exist. 

As the organization grew in Iowa City and Varsha became more involved, she realized how much she liked helping out. She was able to really feel how much of a difference that she was making. 

“I really liked that feeling, and then I started learning more about period poverty and how it affects people here,” Varsha said. “Going to the events, people would tell stories of people they know struggling. The more you hear that, then you realize, ‘Oh, wow, we’re making a big impact. People are actually struggling with this.’” 

Hearing people’s stories and being able to see the impact Love For Red has had on people inspired Varsha to continue to work in the organization. The conversation became focused on spreading the influence of Love For Red, and continuing to grow the organization. The organization operates in multiple cities, but mainly operates in Des Moines. 

Varsha feels that Love For Red is particularly special because of how inclusive it is. Love For Red is for everyone, and they make sure to let people know that. 

“It’s not just women and girls, those aren’t the only people who are affected by this,” Varsha said. 

Varsha added that while serving women’s shelters is very important, Love For Red serves lower and higher income areas, because period poverty is a struggle that many people have, regardless of where they are in life. 

“You really don’t know what’s going on in people’s lives— you shouldn’t assume or judge,” Varsha said. “I think that was very much like aligning with my values.”  

While Varsha has not been able to help out in Des Moines operations as much, since they focus on donating to schools and she spends most of her time in Iowa City, she shared that helping out at events and booths has been gratifying. 

“We had two booths recently where we were actually giving out products to people who would need it. It was really cool. It was nice to give them what they needed,” Varsha said. “They’re like, ‘Oh, can I take multiple of these?’ and I was like, ‘Take as many as you want!’ It felt really good to be able to give them something that they really needed, and take that worry off their plate.” 

Varsha is hoping that Love For Red can continue to spread awareness, as well as expand the Iowa City operations moving forward. She is looking forward to connecting with more schools in the area, as well as spreading awareness around campus. 

The Arrowhead Feature

Waukee High School Monthly Magazine

January 2021

Why Should You Care About Period Poverty?

Maanya Pandey // November 11, 2020

Period poverty is defined as the “inadequate access to menstrual hygiene tools and educations, including but not limited to sanitary products, washing facilities, and waste management” (Alvarez).

These conditions are indeed extremely prevalent among developing countries with 25 percent of women in Nigeria lacking adequate menstrual hygiene management and only 54 percent of schools in India having a separate and usable girls’ restroom (Period Poverty and Poor Menstrual Hygiene), but most people would be surprised to know that period poverty is a common occurrence even developed countries like the United States of America.

“Two-thirds of low-income women in a large city couldn’t afford period products last year”

In America, two-thirds of low-income women in a large city couldn’t afford period products last year (Carroll). With that, many of the women surveyed stated that they regularly had to make the tough decision to purchase food or menstrual products. Food to survive and period products for menstruation are both necessities for basic bodily functions, yet many people unable to afford them are forced every day to choose. It makes you wonder how even in one of the most economically and socially developed countries in the world, people are still facing these types of issues. 

“One in four people aged 13 to 35 have found it harder to manage their period because of the pandemic”

The coronavirus pandemic has made the issue of period poverty worse. Since the beginning of the pandemic, about 47% of menstruators have stated that they have had a harder time accessing menstrual supplies as a result of COVID-19. Additionally, one in four people aged 13 to 35 have found it harder to manage their period because of the pandemic (Napierkowski). This pandemic has greatly affected and increased this issue that many face throughout the world. 

A lot of times because of decreased access to these necessary products, people use dangerous, dignity-stripping alternative methods to get by during their period cycles. Some people have resorted to using socks, old rags, and even cardboard during their period because they are unable to afford pads or tampons. These methods are not only unreliable, but they are also unsafe. Using unclean products can lead to some negative health effects like dangerous diseases and infections. Period poverty has also been shown to take tolls on people’s mental health as well. The lack of access to menstrual products has been discovered to cause elevations of anxiety, depression, and distress scores (Kilpatrick). All of these negative effects and situations are the reason Love For Red wants to help.

“Some people have resorted to using socks, old rags, and even cardboard during their period”

Love For Red strives to uplift the people being crushed by the hardships of period poverty. We want to bring awareness to this widespread yet unknown issue that up to 64% of people with periods face (Carroll). By providing menstrual products to those unable to purchase these necessities, we are ensuring that more people can live with dignity while on their period, no matter where they live. 

To be able to donate these products to everyone who needs them, we need your help. A $20 donation can aid us in supplying one person with enough menstrual products to last them up to six cycles! By donating to Love For Red, you are actively aiding against the battle of period poverty by providing more people with the products they need to stay dignified and safe. 

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Works Cited

Alvarez, Alexandra. “AMWA.” American Medical Women’s Association, 5 Nov. 2019, www.amwa-doc.org/period-poverty/.

Carroll, Linda. “Even in the U.S., Poor Women Often Can’t Afford Tampons, Pads.” Reuters, Thomson Reuters, 10 Jan. 2019, www.reuters.com/article/us-health-menstruation-usa/even-in-the-u-s-poor-women-often-cant-afford-tampons-pads-idUSKCN1P42TX.

Kilpatrick, Ashley Rapp and Sidonie. “Changing the Cycle: Period Poverty as a Public Health Crisis.” U, University of Michigan School of Public Health, 4 Feb. 2020, sph.umich.edu/pursuit/2020posts/period-poverty.html.

Napierkowski, Alicia. “Tampons Are Harder to Get For Many During the Pandemic.” Teen Vogue, 7 Oct. 2020, www.teenvogue.com/story/period-poverty-getting-worse-during-the-pandemic.

“Period Poverty and Poor Menstrual Hygiene.” Figo, 19 Feb. 2019, www.figo.org/news/month-after-month-period-poverty.