What We Do & Who We Help
What We Do
The Menstrual Mission provides 'Period Supply Kits' to those who have trouble affording reliable, safe and sanitary menstrual products. We know that menstrual products can be extremely expensive and are often not covered by government assistance programs. Pads and tampons are also unlikely to be donated to shelters and homeless assistance programs, because of the stigma associated with period products. This can force certain populations to go without access to these basic necessities, which can pose major health risks, in addition to being damaging to one's mental health and sense of self. We are trying to close this gap in access to menstrual products by using donated products & funds to create 'Period Supply Kits' that contain everything one would need for a single period. The Kits are then donated to non-profits & organizations that provide assistance to homeless and low-income folks, where they are placed directly into the hands of those in need.
What Is In A 'Period Supply Kit'
Our 'Period Kits' contain 15-20 pads, tampons and panty liners. They also include hand sanitizer, feminine wipes and a hand written greeting card. New underwear and bars of soap are included in kits when donated.
Who We Help
We currently donate Period Kits to organizations in and around Washington DC, Maryland, Virginia and New Jersey. Our donation sites include homeless shelters, food pantries, soup kitchens, domestic violence centers, low income assistance organizations, and university departments that distribute products to students and staff in need.
To the left is a list of all our donation sites to date. Click on each site to learn more about their mission and other ways to help!
Our Commitments
There are several key commitments that guide everything we do at The Menstrual Mission, from our donation locations to our greeting cards to our volunteer events.
- No - Barrier Access
- We don't want people to 'prove' their level of poverty or need in order to access our Kits. We try to give Kits to anyone and everyone who says they are in need of services, without facing barriers to these services.
- Gender - Neutral Access
- We are committed to providing kits to anyone who menstruates, regardless of sex or gender identity. We actively try to keep all our communication gender neutral - using phrases such as 'menstruated' or 'folks' instead of 'women' or 'females'. Our events are always open to all, regardless of sex or gender identity, and all cards avoid gendered language. We also always try to donate a portion of our Kits to organizations that are not female-only, and we actively seek donation partnerships with LGBT+ organizations.
Who Else Should We Be Helping?
If you have suggestion of a population, non-profit, or organization that we can donate our 'Period Kits' to, please let us know using the 'contact us' page!