Board & Staff
Our board is our staff, featuring powerful women in our community. We are proud to show off our strengths as a team, starting from left to right:
- Dayna Daves – Vice President
- Ashley Thacker – Treasurer
- Kerri Neil – President
- Krystal Johnson – Secretary
Our History
In April of 2023 Governor Kim Reynolds signed Iowa’s Fetal Heartbeat Bill, restricting the rights of women to access lifesaving medical treatment and maintain bodily autonomy. This resurrected some anger in Kerri after years of being repeatedly denied surgical treatment for painful ovarian cysts due solely to her unmarried status. Anger often begets action, and Kerri decided to put her anger to use and focus on something that she could do. She enlisted the help of her always willing accomplice Krystal Johnson, and they devised a plan to raise awareness about period poverty in our community. CODE RED was born. The original plan was to hold a one time menstrual product drive and fill the shelves of local agencies that serve those in need in efforts to raise awareness that period poverty exists and is prevalent here at home.
That one-time product drive was wildly successful at both filling shelves and raising awareness. Many times we heard people say that they had never thought about struggling with period poverty. And we caught the attention of Megan Brincks, Director at the United Way of Southeast Iowa, who enthusiastically threw her support behind our efforts. A few short weeks later, Megan assisted us with applying for a grant from The Pad Project. While applying for the grant, we had to disclose in detail our plan for utilizing the funds. The turnaround time was short, and we created the Year Supply Project as we filled out the application. We were awarded $1,000 and supplied 240 menstrual products (an average supply for 12 menstrual cycles) to 25 member of our community. We have been awarded similar grants and plan to repeat this project.
CODE RED continued to gain momentum and members Ashley Thacker and Dayna Daves were added, as well as countless volunteers that are vital to every endeavor.
While inability to access appropriate products is the most blaring tenant of period poverty, CODE RED strives to address all of them. Education about menstruation and menstrual health is a key piece to eliminating period poverty and minimizing the stigma around discussing periods. CODE RED hosted an educational event in 2024 and supported a local teen in her community project of planning and executing a Menstruation Education Day at the Capitol Theater.
In 2024 Kerri was randomly asked if there was a large-scale winter coat program in the Burlington area. This question stuck in her mind. When she asked Megan of the United Way, she responded “No, but there should be.” The team talked and a new project called Coat Red began. A coat drive was held where many local businesses offered to be collection points. The local laundromat offered free laundry, an army of volunteers jumped in, use of a venue was donated, and we invited anyone in need to come see if we had a coat for them. Nearly 300 coats were given away in a few hours.
Even with only a few years under our belts, we continue to drive the community forward and support everyone that is suffering from period poverty in our community. From education, to fundraising, we are here to ensure that no one should be without.
Mission Statement
Our primary purpose is to raise awareness and provide support through an array of avenues to individuals who experience varying levels of Period Poverty (defined as the inability to access or afford necessary menstrual products, proper hygiene faculties/supplies, or education and support regarding menstrual care).