Asterisk

But period supplies are taxed like one.

Period Poverty

Having a period is not a luxury.

Asterisk

But period supplies are taxed like one.

No student should have to miss school, no adult should have to miss work, and no person should have to miss out on daily life because they are unable to afford the basic necessities they require.

What is period poverty?

Half of the population menstruates. We all know plenty of people that have a period. But not everyone knows that two in five people struggle to purchase period supplies due to lack of income. This is called period poverty, and chances are we each know someone who has experienced this need – a neighbor, a co-worker, a friend.

No student should have to miss school, no adult should have to miss work, and no person should have to miss out on daily life because they are unable to afford the basic necessities they require to thrive.

Alliance for Period Supplies is a national organization working to ensure that individuals in need have access to essential period products required to participate fully in daily life. With your support, and that of our founding sponsor U by Kotex®, we are improving lives.

A growing need.

A 2021 study conducted by U by Kotex®, found that two in five people have struggled to purchase period products, a 35% increase from the brand’s initial research in 2018. Earlier data inspired U by Kotex® to become the founding sponsor of the Alliance for Period Supplies in 2018 and support those affected by period poverty.

The study also uncovered how period poverty is disproportionately impacting Black and Latina people, as well as the impacts of COVID-19 on the issue:

  • A quarter of Black (23%) and Latina (24%) people with periods strongly agree that they’ve struggled to afford period products in the past year.
  • 27% of all respondents said the COVID-19 pandemic made it difficult to access period products, with two-thirds (65%) of those who have struggled stating they lacked access because they could not afford them.
  • Over one-third (38%) of low-income women report missing work, school or similar events due to lack of access to period supplies.
  • Nearly seven in ten (68%) people agree that period poverty is a public health issue, yet only 4% of Americans are aware of a local resource where free or reduced cost period supplies are available.

Read the full news release here.

A copy of the findings is available here.

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Blog

When [Ashley Eubanks] spoke with organizations that served homeless people, she found that though they all reported a tremendous need for period supplies, they almost never received donations of those items. With a birthday approaching, Ashley decided to throw herself a party where all the guests were asked to bring pads or tampons in lieu of a gift.

The Beauty Initiative

Fort Lauderdale, FL

U by Kotex Founding Sponsor Logo

Founding Sponsor

470 James St #7
New Haven, CT 06513

203.821.7348
info@allianceforperiodsupplies.org

 

EIN # 45 - 2823935