Two Shelby County commissioners and several local partners are sponsoring a Period Supply Drive to give free menstrual products to Shelby County women in need.

The event is Saturday, May 2, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., while supplies last, in the back lot of Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church, 70 N. Bellevue Boulevard.

Event sponsors are Commissioners Mickell Lowery and Tami Sawyer, in partnership with nonprofit organizations Sister Supply, Period at 901 Memphis and A Step Ahead Foundation.

The supplies were initially collected for women in Ghana, the 2020 Memphis in May International Festival honored country. However, the coronavirus world pandemic halted distribution.

“Originally, these supplies were collected for young people in Ghana. Due to COVID-19, we weren’t able to ship overseas. COVID-19 has added additional economic stress to our community and so we will distribute to those in need of period supplies here in Shelby County, where the impact of layoffs and closures is hampering access and affordability to even the most basic items,” Sawyer said in a statement.

“These supplies are vital hygiene products that many women and girls within Shelby County go without. Throughout this pandemic, we want to ensure that they all have access to the supplies necessary for them to live happy and healthy lives. It should be a community-wide effort to make certain that no one is lacking in any essential items during critical times like these,” Lowery said.

Sister Supply focuses on supplying needy women with period supplies and educating them about reusable products. Period at 901 Memphis is working to end period poverty and stigma. And the A Step Ahead Foundation helps women access free, reversible birth control.