Life
Anyone who’s had a period knows what it’s like to realize you’ve used your last pad or tampon. Imagine that feeling multiplied by every day of every period for the foreseeable future. This is the reality millions of people with periods face across the world because they don’t have access to or can’t afford menstrual products. Frankly, that reality sucks. However, you can help by supporting organizations that donate menstrual products to people with periods who need them.
Lack of access to affordable menstrual products is a global problem. In the United States, 26.4 million people can’t afford menstrual products. Across the world, an estimated 100 million young people lack access to adequate menstrual products. Without access to these products, many students miss school or drop out entirely during their period. In Sub-Saharan Africa, one in 10 students miss school during their period. In India, one in four students don’t come to school when they’re menstruating. Having a period shouldn’t have to cost a student their education.
There are a few reasons we likely don’t hear enough about this problem. One of them is period stigma and the idea that something half the population experiences is taboo. Another is the notion that periods are a “female problem” and theirs alone to worry about. This ignores the existence of transgender men (who may have periods) and transgender women (who may not) as well as nonbinary people. Menstrual health should be important to everyone because it implies everyone having access to basic toiletries and sanitary goods.
You can help provide people with periods the menstrual products they need by supporting places already doing the work. Here are 10 organizations dedicated to menstrual health you can help.
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Support the Girls
Support the Girls is nonprofit whose mission says it best: People shouldn’t have to choose between feeding themselves and their personal health. They help provide bras and menstrual products to homeless people across NOrth America. You can donate money here to Support the Girls or you can find more information on where to send bras and menstrual products here.
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#HappyPeriod
#HappyPeriod is a foundation that believes no one should go without proper menstrual care. They are helping homeless people get menstrual products as well as helping eliminate the stigma surrounding menstruation. You can get involved with #HappyPeriod here and make a donation here.
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Pads4Girls
Pads4Girls was started by Lunapads, a Canadian company. Since 2000, Pads4Girls has helped provide access to education and support menstrual and reproductive health in the Global South. You can support their mission with their buy one, give one model using One4Her. You can also donate here.
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Your Local Shelters
Do a quick Google search or check out this directory of homeless shelters to find places in your neighborhood that need menstrual products. Like Tina Leslie of Freedom4Girls learned, you don't always need to look as far as you think to find someone in need.