Meet Becca Houlehan Izzy Zschoche

We recently connected with Becca Houlehan Izzy Zschoche and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Becca Houlehan, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

At our school, we had both experienced how the lack period products impacted us and our learning environment. Many menstruators in our grade had had similar experiences. We started talking and realized how this is such a big issue, and yet no one is talking about it. So, we held a bake sale. The funds from the baked goods went to purchasing period products for our school. But, we ended up doing more research on how detrimental period poverty is, and how widespread it truly is. From there Equity.Period. snowballed into what it is today, and three years later we are making differences in schools across the KCMO area.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

We are co-founders of Equity.Period. which is a local non-profit that battles period poverty. We are currently supporting over 17 schools in the KCMO area, by providing free and comfortable period products. We also pair with Free Hot Soup and hand out period packs (with enough pads/tampons for a full cycle, wipes, and disposable bags) to the housing-insecure community. Together we have testified three times in favor of abolishing the tampon tax, because currently in Kansas period products are taxed as a luxury item.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

We had to learn how to manage running a not-for-profit, we learned how to reach out to complete strangers, to talk about periods (which are wrongfully stigmatized) and we had to learn how to stay organized and on top of donations. Our advice for folks who are early in their journey, is simply don’t be afraid to reach out! It’s a definite no if you never ask. Also, never be afraid to utilize a good excel spreadsheet.

Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?

The number one obstacle we are currently facing, is the high tax on period products. We are purchasing period products in Missouri, where the tax is less. Having a period is not a luxury, and period products should not be taxed as such. We are currently working with elected officials to try to best combat this unjust tax, and we are also willing to testify in favor of bills which abolish the tampon tax.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://equity-period.org
• Instagram: @equity-period
• Facebook: @equity-period