Back to School Campaign

1 in 4 teens in the U.S. has missed class because they don’t have access to menstrual products.

While this is a startling statistic, especially for those of us who associate 'Back to School' with the excitement of choosing gel pens and color coordinating notebooks, for families experiencing financial insecurities, the multitude of costs associated with returning to school is nothing new.  

In Southern California alone, thousands of students are currently experiencing homelessness, and even more rely on free or reduced school meal programs. For these students and families, it can often be difficult to afford period care products. Students in low income communities often have difficulty obtaining products and rely on what is available in schools. School districts and administrators, facing rising demand for freely available period care products, are not always able to ensure access to products for students in need. 

The Pad Project wants to ensure that students have reliable and easy access to period care products. Last August, The Pad Project launched our Pads for Schools initiative, which was designed to combat period poverty in schools across the U.S. So far, we’ve provided grants to 4 school districts in 2 states to help them purchase and distribute menstrual products to students in need. Combined, these school districts have distributed over 22,000 individual menstrual products! 

This year, we're aiming to support more menstruators, and we need your help! Our goal is to raise $10,000 to support our current Pads for Schools partners and expand our program to reach more schools and school districts. Donate today to support the menstrual health of students across the U.S.!