I’LL SEE YOU AT SIX BRITTANY AND GAI. CHARI. THANKS SO MUCH. ADDRESSING THE HYGIENE INSECURITY ISSUE IN THE CITY OF BIRMINGHAM. SOME SIXTH AND SEVENTH GRADERS AT SOUTHAMPTON K THROUGH EIGHT HOPE TO ADDRESS THAT WITH A VENDING MACHINE THAT OFFERS FREE FEMININE HYGIENE PRODUCTS AND BABY DIAPERS. WVTM 13 S MAGDALA LOUISSAINT SHOWS US THEY’RE PREPPING PROCESS. IT’S AMAZING. IT’S AN AMAZING FEELING. YOU KNOW, ALL OF US REALLY WORK HARD. THESE SOUTHAMPTON SIXTH AND SEVENTH GRADERS ARE WORKING HARD, PACKAGING. THE SPONSOR DONATED -- PADS, -- AND BABY DIAPERS FOR PEOPLE WHO CAN’T AFFORD THEM. YES, WE SHOULD MAKE THIS VENDING MACHINE COMPLETELY FREE FOR NO CHARGE FOR ANYBODY. LATE LAST YEAR, JASON WALTON AND HIS CLASSMATES WON A $10,000 COMMUNITY BASED STEM COMPETITION THAT WOWED THE JUDGES. TAMARA CLARK, THEIR TEACHER SPONSOR, SAYS THROUGH CONVERSATIONS, STUDENTS LEARNED HYGIENE INSECURITY IS A MAJOR COMMUNITY PROBLEM IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. WHEN WE LOOKED UP THEIR STATS, WHEN IT CAME TO PERIOD POVERTY AND ADDRESSING THOSE NEEDS, YOU KNOW, WE KNEW WE WAS ON TO SOMETHING VERY, VERY BIG BUT JUST DID NOT REALIZE HOW BIG IT WOULD HAVE BECOME IN A COMMUNITY. THAT COMMUNITY FIX COMES BY WAY OF THIS WEBSITE HYGIENE HUB AND THIS VENDING MACHINE. WE HAVE A SCANNER THAT’S ATTACHED TO THE MACHINE. NO MONEY IS BEING MOVED AROUND, SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT STORING MONEY IN ANY DIGITAL CURRENCIES. NONE OF THAT. IF YOU’RE IN NEED, JUST FILL OUT A QUICK FORM AND EVERY MONTH YOU’LL GET TWO CREDITS FOR FREE PADS, DIAPERS, OR BOTH. AT RENEW BIRMINGHAM IN ENSLEY. UTILIZE THAT BECAUSE WE WANT YOU TO REALLY USE IT. LATER ON THIS WEEK ON THURSDAY AT 530 IN THE EVENING, THERE’S GOING TO BE A RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY WHERE PEOPLE WILL FINALLY SEE THE FULL LOOK OF THIS VENDING MACHINE. IN BIRMINGHAM, I’M MAGDALA LOUISSAINT WVTM 13. IF YOU’RE WONDERING WHAT IF SOMEONE DOESN’T HAVE A PHONE TO SCAN THE QR CODE? MISS CLARK TELLS US OFFICIALS AT RENEW BIRMINGHAM WILL RECEIVE THE CODE ON THEIR END TO PRINT IT OUT FOR THE PERSON TO KEEP AN
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'All of us really worked hard:' South Hampton K-8 students fix hygiene insecurity with vending machine
This week, middle school-aged students at South Hampton K-8 School are preparing to fill up a vending machine in the Ensley community."It's amazing. It's an amazing feeling. All of us really worked hard,” Jason Walton, a 7th grader, said.WVTM 13 was there to see the 6th and 7th graders working hard packaging sponsor-donated menstrual pads, tampons and baby diapers for people who can't afford them.“Yes, we should make this vending machine completely free. Free of charge for anybody,” Walton said.Late last year, Walton and his classmates won a $10,000 community-based STEM competition that wooed the judges.Tambra Clark, their teacher sponsor, says through conversations, students learned hygiene insecurity is a major community problem in their neighborhood."When we looked up the stats, when it came to period poverty and addressing those needs. We knew we were onto something very, very big. We just did not realize how big it would become in the community,” Clark said.The community fix comes by way of a website, hygienehubbhm.com and a vending machine. “We have a scanner attached to the machine. No money is being moved around. So, you don't have to worry about storing money or any digital currency, none of that,” Clark said.If you're in need, just fill out a quick form on the webpage. After that, you’ll get a QR code that allows you to use two credits every month for free pads, diapers, or both at Renew Birmingham in Ensley. Thanks to community sponsors, the machine will stay stocked. All that's left is for you to show up. “Utilize that because we want you to really use it,” Walton said.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. —
This week, middle school-aged students at South Hampton K-8 School are preparing to fill up a vending machine in the Ensley community.
"It's amazing. It's an amazing feeling. All of us really worked hard,” Jason Walton, a 7th grader, said.
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WVTM 13 was there to see the 6th and 7th graders working hard packaging sponsor-donated menstrual pads, tampons and baby diapers for people who can't afford them.
“Yes, we should make this vending machine completely free. Free of charge for anybody,” Walton said.
Late last year, Walton and his classmates won a $10,000 community-based STEM competition that wooed the judges.
Tambra Clark, their teacher sponsor, says through conversations, students learned hygiene insecurity is a major community problem in their neighborhood.
"When we looked up the stats, when it came to period poverty and addressing those needs. We knew we were onto something very, very big. We just did not realize how big it would become in the community,” Clark said.
The community fix comes by way of a website, hygienehubbhm.com and a vending machine.
“We have a scanner attached to the machine. No money is being moved around. So, you don't have to worry about storing money or any digital currency, none of that,” Clark said.
If you're in need, just fill out a quick form on the webpage. After that, you’ll get a QR code that allows you to use two credits every month for free pads, diapers, or both at Renew Birmingham in Ensley.
Thanks to community sponsors, the machine will stay stocked.
All that's left is for you to show up.
“Utilize that because we want you to really use it,” Walton said.
