PERIOD PRODUCT NEEDS
Did you know?
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Period Products, like diapers, are not supported by any government assistance programs.
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Menstrual products aren’t seen as an essential item and are rarely donated to shelters or resource banks.
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Many are forced to use make-shift alternatives and are at increased risk for health complications.
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Menstruation is costly; several studies have estimated the “cost of being a menstruator” at thousands of dollars over a lifetime.
Regardless of what you call it, periods are a natural, uncontrollable, and usually afflictive phenomenon for a menstruator. It’s unacceptable that people with periods across the world are burdened with the choice between essential period products and other necessities. As a result, many go with basic needs going unmet, affecting other parts of their livelihoods; overall health, relationships, able-bodiedness to support themselves and their families.
Period poverty is defined as a lack of access to menstrual products, sanitation facilities, and adequate education.
Period poverty means using toilet paper, fast food napkins, socks, and old clothing, paper towels from public restrooms, using the same tampon or pad for too long, and/or staying home because of inability to pay for or access sufficient products. This results in a list of physical and psychological health issues, missing school or work, ultimately enabling the cycle of poverty to continue.
WPADB Period Project
Menstruation is still seen as taboo or inappropriate to talk about, plaguing people with stigma and shame toward their period and leaving them without proper resources.
We’re addressing this disparity in a couple of ways:
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By collecting and redistributing tampons, pads, liners, and period cup donations to families via The Department of Human Services and our partner agencies.
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Through education! The WPADB Period Project is an advocacy program comprising a discussion-based cohort and comprehensive curriculum that aims to address period poverty through an intersectional lens and empower youth through advocacy; for oneself and each other. The program is directed towards young people aged 15-25 years old, non-menstruators welcomed.
Participants will learn about the historical and current barriers of period poverty. The discussion includes the health needs of menstruators, political and social barriers to product access, education about advocacy, and ultimately the de-stigmatization of periods through increasing visibility and impacting legislation.
Each cohort of students will be involved in 5-weekly classes and 1-day of action, in which the students will culminate in a community distribution event. Students will write letters to local legislators to influence menstrual health change. Each student who finishes the program will receive a monetary stipend and a 6-month period supply.
2 in 5 people have struggled to purchase period products in the past year Due to Lack of Income.
The Western Pennsylvania Diaper Bank, is honored to join the Alliance for Period Supplies and U by Kotex as an Allied Organization of The Alliance for Period Supplies, to help alleviate this need in Western Pennsylvania. We know that when these needs go unmet, it adds additional stress to families who are already struggling to provide what they need to. If we can help families provide diapers and period products for those in their families then the other resources can be redirected to something else, perhaps to food, transportation, or savings. All of which may help alleviate the pressure of poverty and increase the quality of life.
How Can You Help #EndPeriodPoverty?
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Host a drive – You can host a period supply drive! Contact us at info@wpadiaperbank.org for help getting started.
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Donate period products directly to us– You can donate period products at any of our normal diaper drop off sites or through our Amazon Wishlist.
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Make a monetary donation directly to 201 N. Braddock Ave, PGH PA 15208.
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Spread the word – Share the information about #periodproductneed across social media and with your loved ones. You can visit the Alliance for Period Supplies website for even more information.