Oswego Health
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Presented by Solvay Bank
This feature of CEO Insights spotlights local companies that are “Economic Champions” because of their success in adding jobs; expanding their products or services; advancing diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives; gaining national recognition or contributing to the success of the region in special ways.
Established in 1881, Oswego Health is a nonprofit healthcare system and Oswego County’s largest private employer. The mission of Oswego Health is to provide accessible, quality care and improve the health of residents throughout Oswego County. In the spirit of this mission, Oswego Health recently opened a Menstrual Product Pantry at the Center for Mental Health & Wellness for Youth in Fulton.
This new pantry aims to provide free, easily accessible, quality period products to young women and address an often-overlooked need that directly impacts their physical and mental well-being. The idea originated with the dedicated staff at the Center for Mental Health & Wellness for Youth.
“We serve a predominantly low-income population, with many of our patients relying on Medicaid, SNAP, and similar programs,” explained School-Based Mental Health Program Coordinator Jennifer Lynn Torrese, MSED. “Unfortunately, quality period products are expensive, and these kinds of programs do not provide cash assistance to cover this basic need, so our staff have noticed clients making do without--isolating at home and skipping social events--which has a tremendous negative impact on these young women’s physical and mental health. We want to help remove this barrier to product access to set these young women up for success in every aspect of their lives, beginning with self-care and dignity.”
The Menstrual Product Pantry is made possible thanks to a $2,500 grant from the Women's Fund of CNY at the Central New York Community Foundation and a $2,500 award from Excellus BlueCross BlueShield as part of their Health and Wellness Awards Program.
Learn more about Oswego Health and the Menstrual Product Pantry.