No student should have to miss school because they don’t have period supplies.
No adult should have to miss work because they can’t afford menstrual care.
And no person should be forced to step back from daily life because of something that is a basic need.
Yet for millions of people, this is still reality.
What is Period Poverty?
Period poverty refers to the lack of access to menstrual products due to financial barriers.
While menstruation is a normal part of life for about half the population, 2 in 5 people struggle to afford period supplies.
Most people know someone affected – a friend, a co worker, a neighbor – but it’s not always visible until it becomes urgent.
And when access isn’t there, the impact is immediate: missed school, missed work, and missed participation in daily activities.
Why It Matters
Period products are essential – not optional – but access is still uneven.
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1 in 3 low-income people report missing work or school due to lack of period supplies
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Period poverty is widely recognized as a public health issue
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Only a small fraction of Americans know where to get support and resources
At the same time, awareness is growing. More than 76% of Americans agree that period products should be freely available in school and universities, just like toilet paper or paper towels are.
The support exists. But access is hard.
A Growing Need
Studies show that 2 out of 5 people have struggled to afford period supplies, a 35% increase from 2018.
The same research highlights that period poverty disproportionately impacts Black and Latina communities and has been worsened by economic instability and global disruptions such as COVID-19.
This is not a small issue – it’s a widespread gap in basic access.
Alliance for Period Supplies
The Alliance for Period Supplies is a national organization working to ensure people who menstruate have access to the products they need to fully participate in daily life.
Each year, they lead Period Poverty Awareness Week (May 11-17, 2026) to bring attention to the issue and encourage action.
During this week they encourage people to:
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Start conversations about periods and period poverty
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Support local organizations
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Host or join drives
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Help increase access in their own communities
Their work helps connect awareness to real, tangible support systems across the country.
US Conference on Poverty & Basic Needs
In late October, we had the honor of launching our new GladRags NonProfit Discount Program at the 14th Annual U.S. Conference on Poverty and Basic Needs in Las Vegas, the only national gathering focused on ending period poverty and basic needs gaps.
The program connects GladRags with nonprofits to offer deeply discounted pads in bulk to the communities they serve—schools, community health clinics, basic needs banks, and other communities experiencing period poverty.
At the conference we spoke with many of the 300+ nonprofits that attended who are working to alleviate period poverty and diaper need from a variety of angles. We had great conversations about what kinds of kits and pads would work best in the communities they serve, whether they had tried other reusables and why they had/hadn’t worked. We got the inside scoop on upcoming legislative efforts aimed at increasing menstrual dignity, and made some period pals that I think we’ll have for the long haul.
Local Action in Portland
While period poverty is a global issue, solutions often happen locally.
We are located in Portland, Oregon and partner with the PDX Diaper Bank, which provides diapers, period supplies, and essential resources to families who need them.
Period products and diapers are necessities, but many assistance programs such as WIC and SNAP don’t fully cover them, leaving families to rely on community support.
One amazing aspect about our work with PDX Diaper Bank is that our support is flexible. Rather than distributing fixed products, donations through GladRags become credit the organization can use based on what people need most at that moment. That might mean menstrual supplies for a family in crisis, materials for educational programs, or products for someone rebuilding after an emergency.
Recently, that flexibility allowed the PDX Diaper Bank to provide reusable menstrual supplies to a woman whose home had burned down – meeting an immediate need in a moment of crisis.
If you’d like to support this work, we’ve created a donation option directly through our website. Contributions go straight towards the PDX Diaper Bank’s GladRags fund, where they can access reusable menstrual products as needed through our nonprofit program.
Even small contributions can help expand access to essential care in our local community.
In early 2025, co-owners of GladRags, Sara and Abby, attended the PDX Diaper Gala , where they met the head of the Alliance for Period Supplies and got to learn more about what period equity means.
Experiences like this that bring change makers together has connected our team with advocates, education, and organization working directly in the field – and reinforced how layered access to menstrual care truly is.
Moving Forward
Period poverty is solvable – but it requires awareness, access, and sustained support.
Whether through national advocacy or local organization, every effort plays a role in closing the gap.
If you’re looking to get involved, consider supporting:
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A local diaper bank or period supply program in your community
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The Alliance for Period Supplies and their network of partners
Because access to menstrual care shouldn't depend on where you live or your income. Period care is a basic need.