1. Educate and Raise Awareness

The first step toward ending period poverty is to challenge the notion that periods are somehow dirty or shameful. A 2021 study, “State of the Period,” commissioned by Thinx & PERIOD found the following:

• 76% of students say there is a negative association that periods are gross and unsanitary and 65% agree that society teaches people to be ashamed of their periods.
• 70% say the school environment makes them especially self-conscious of their periods.
• 83% hide their period products when they walk out of class to go to the bathroom.
• 65% do not want to be at school when they have their periods

Challenging the stigma around menstruation can help encourage those experiencing period poverty to open up and request products they need.

Resources for Educational Presentations:

Two national organizations, PERIOD and Alliance for Period Supplies, a program of the National Diaper Bank Network, have websites with an abundance of educational information. You can put together a presentation from these resources or find an expert in your area who would be willing to give a talk on the topic. The Alliance for Period Supplies has a map and list of Allied Organizations by state that could help you find an organization to provide a speaker, as well as to which to donate items.  Download the toolikit

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2. Advocacy

A.  State Legislation

In many states, period products are not recognized as basic necessities, but rather taxed as luxury items at a similar rate as goods like decor, makeup, electronics and toys.

As of September, 2022, 33 states (plus Washington D.C.) exempt food from their general sales tax and 5 states tax food at a lower rate than other goods, but only 23 states (plus Washington D.C.) exempt period products from taxation. Another 5 states do not have a state sales tax. The other 22 states charge sales tax on period products ranging from 4-7%.

B.  Federal Legislation

U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY) successfully enacted legislation that allows menstrual products (including tampons, pads, liners, cups, and other items) to be purchased with money from health savings accounts (HSA) and flexible spending accounts (FSA). The legislation was included in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which was the COVID-19 relief package that was passed by Congress and signed into law in March 2020.

H.R. 3614 was introduced in the last Congressional session and, hopefully will be re-introduced in the current session: (watch for a Fast Action Friday)

H.R.3614 – Menstrual Equity For All Act of 2021 is a whole-of-government, and comprehensive initiative that seeks to help different populations of women and girls afford and access needed menstrual products, including tampons, pads and many other items.

PERIOD also has a step-by-step guide for contacting your legislators.

3.  Service

Service around Period Poverty involves collecting various types of feminine hygiene products for donation. The collection can be a one-time event or an on-going activity. You can expand your service activity by volunteering with a related organization.

Consider donating period products to any of the following entities:

•  Homeless shelters
•  Domestic violence shelters
•  Food pantries
• Schools—middle or high schools or universities
• Diaper banks

Local period supply programs–independent community-based nonprofit organizations that collect, warehouse and distribute menstrual/period supplies in local communities.

If you need help finding an organization to benefit, check out the Alliance for Period Supplies website for period supply programs in your area on a map and list of Allied Organizations by state or lists of organizations such as women’s shelters, homeless shelters and food pantries by state in the Alliance’s hosting a drive guide. Although most clubs prefer to donate locally, you could consider donating product to PERIOD to help stock their warehouses for distribution to their partner organizations directly serving menstruators in need. This approach might work especially well for e-clubs.

Be sure to check with the organization you are considering benefiting to find out what kind of products they need and whether they have any types of restrictions on items they can accept. Consider seeking volunteer opportunities for individuals and/or groups and other ways to get involved with the organization to which you are donating or your local period supply program.