CARY, N.C.— The Center for Biological Diversity will give away sexual and reproductive health emergency preparedness kits at the Cary Really, Really Free Market on Saturday, July 25.

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

“Climate change is bringing more frequent and devastating extreme weather to North Carolina, but reproductive health items are usually left out of emergency preparedness kits,” said Kelley Dennings, a campaigner at the Center for Biological Diversity. “Handing out these kinds of supplies helps ensure reproductive justice during climate emergencies.”

What: Sexual health emergency preparedness kit giveaway.

Who: The Center for Biological Diversity.

When: Saturday, July 25, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Where: Cary’s Really, Really Free Market. Walnut Street Park, 1420 Walnut St., Cary, NC 27511 (on the corner of Lawrence and Walnut).

Background

Extreme weather events can disrupt services and limit access to abortions, contraception and menstrual hygiene products. This increases the risk of unintended pregnancy and can make it harder for vulnerable people to recover from the event.

The climate crisis harms everyone but has a disproportionate effect on women and gender-diverse people. Their voices are often left out of climate and emergency preparedness plans, even as climate-fueled 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.