Advocate for period equity by starting your own period pantry in your community! Here’s what you need.
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A period pantry, menstruation station, period product project, or whatever you may call it, which is a stock of free menstrual products made available in public bathrooms, would help out a lot of people with periods in tight situations—and it’s pretty easy to start one.
Period pantries are growing in number, mostly in America, but the issue of period poverty and inequity is a neglected global issue. The lack of access to period products and sexual and reproductive health education is yet another systemic issue that affects women and people with periods everywhere.
@kimfaithchurch I was 12, humiliated in front of 100+ people.😥 I vowed none of my students would experience that if I could help it. Ran out of tampons to give them in October, but pad game is still going strong. 💪 #periodproject #girlpowerproject #freepads #kotex #femininehygiene #tampax #femininehygieneproducts #periodatschool #teacherlife #imateacher #middleschool #highschool #secondaryschool #teachersoftiktok #fyp #coolkids #fitin #learning #leading #belonging ♬ Cool Kids (our sped up version) – Echosmith
As our frustration grows at the lack of tangible and progressive actions addressing all forms of poverty and inequality, we ourselves can take action and help each other out in addressing the lack of access to period products locally. More than providing a pad to your friend when they ask you if you have one, you can supply period products and help out more people if you start your own period pantry in your community.
BUT WHY?
Period poverty is a very real and present issue all over the world. It primarily pertains to the lack of widespread access to not just menstrual products but discourse involving menstrual health and hygiene. Period product prices are also increasing, so it’s growing more inaccessible to more people. The struggle of inaccessibility affects not just people’s hygiene, but could also bleed into their lives and affect their ability to participate in their daily activities.
Other countries like Scotland provide free period products to its citizens. In the Philippines, Senate Bill No. 2475, a bill that aims to promote menstrual health and hygiene by providing free menstrual products to public schools and public health centers is currently pending in the House of Representatives, and passing it into law is a major step.
But right here and now, sometimes, people need menstrual products ASAP—and a readily-available stock of free period products just within reach would be a great help. For those with privilege and access to period products, extending that privilege to others is one way to help out the community. And yes, maybe some people will hoard the products, but what’s the harm in that? If they need it, they get it. Read on to find out how to launch your own community-driven period pantry.
LOCATION SCOUTING
There are plenty of places where a free period product pantry would benefit the people there. Schools, workplaces, restaurant bathrooms, gas station bathrooms, and more would be perfect places to have free stocks of period products. Scout locations where you think a period pantry would help someone out when they need it most.
Asking permission from the place is ideal—they may even help you out or initiate the project themselves. It’s also better if the location is somewhere close to you or somewhere you frequent, if you want to keep track of it. But it doesn’t have to be if you think it can sustain itself.
GATHER SUPPLIES
After clearing everything with the location, all you need is a box or basket, and a variety of period products. You can ask your friends to pitch in or ask for donations IRL or online. Fill the basket with napkins (keep them wrapped!) in a variety of sizes, tampons, and maybe even wipes and tissue. You can even opt for eco-friendly menstrual products to present more sustainable options.
Label the basket accordingly with something like “Free Period Products,” “Period Pantry,” or “Take What You Need, Leave What You Can,” something that makes the function and purpose of the box clear. You can also leave a note with clearer details in or on the box.
Leave the box or basket in an area where people can easily see it and it won’t get knocked over easily. Check back on it once in a while to see if people are participating, or refill should you choose to, and encourage people to contribute or start their own!
SPREAD THE WORD
@lifewithivana Period Station Restock for my students!! #periodstation #periodtips #hygieneproducts #femininehygiene #restockasmr #refillasmr #restockandrefill #organized #satisfying #danceteacher #teacherideas #lifewithivana ♬ Boy's a Liar – PinkPantheress
Partner this project with understanding the circumstances that necessitate action on our part, such as the taboo surrounding menstruation and reproductive health education, so more people can advocate for larger systemic change in terms of menstrual health and rights.
You can donate to organizations and collectives that initiate projects that address period issues or learn from those that advocate for period equity, like We Bleed Red Movement PH. There are plenty of steps we can take to help each other out even in small ways, and all we need is to take the first one.
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