JACKSONVILLE, Fla.— The Center for Biological Diversity, Jax Period Pantry and Rebel Recovery will give away sexual and reproductive health emergency preparedness kits at the Jacksonville Really Really Free Market on Saturday, Oct. 4.

The kits are being distributed during hurricane season to highlight the importance of preparing for sexual and reproductive health disruptions during extreme weather events. Each kit includes condoms, emergency contraception, period products, pregnancy tests and lubricant.

“Hurricanes can make it impossible to access family planning and period supplies, but people are rarely warned to include these basic needs in their preparedness kits,” said Kelley Dennings, a campaigner at the Center for Biological Diversity. “Sexual health preparedness kits help people get ready for climate-fueled severe weather emergencies and take care of their health as their communities recover from the storm.”

The kits are being distributed at Jacksonville’s local Really Really Free Market to highlight the need to support community mutual aid both in preparing for natural disasters and providing help following extreme weather events in Florida.

“Sharing sexual health items through initiatives like this empowers our community to be proactive in all aspects of emergency preparedness,” said Nicole Rodriguez, program director at Rebel Recovery. “By ensuring access to essential supplies, we foster resilience and support the well-being of everyone, especially during times of crisis.”

What: Sexual health emergency preparedness kit giveaway by the Center for Biological Diversity, Jax Period Pantry and Rebel Recovery

When: Saturday, Oct. 4, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Where: Jacksonville’s Really Really Free Market. Memorial Park, 1620 Riverside Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32204 (right side of park facing the river; street parking is available)

Background

Extreme weather events can disrupt services and limit access to abortions, birth control and menstrual hygiene products, increasing the risk of unintended pregnancy and making it harder for vulnerable people to recover from the storm. The climate crisis has a disproportionate impact on women and gender-diverse people, but their voices are often left out of climate and emergency preparedness plans, even as severe weather events become more frequent because of human-caused climate change. Sexual health emergency preparedness kits are designed to fill this gap, as well as highlight the need for people and communities to consider these kinds of items in their own emergency preparations.