Positive Charge! PDX is launching a three-week initiative, Period Power Project, collecting menstrual products and hygiene items to alleviate period poverty.

In conjunction with Period Poverty Awareness Week, May 12-18, and World Menstrual Hygiene Day, May 28, this drive aims to combat period poverty.

The Alliance for Period Supplies defines period poverty as the inability to afford or access period products such as pads, tampons, liners, menstrual cups, and other basic hygiene items required to manage a period.

The drive runs from May 10 through May 30, with a packing party for the supplies on Sunday, June 1, at Ida B. Wells High School in Southwest Portland.

“Many of our own low-income neighbors — think people living under the federal poverty threshold, refugees, migrant farmworkers, and the houseless — struggle to afford menstrual products,” Abby Menashe, PC! PDX project co-leader, said in a statement. “They often choose between buying food or essential hygiene supplies and may resort to using socks, toilet paper, or even folded plain paper in lieu of appropriate items.”

These items will be dispersed to local organizations, including Blazers Boys & Girls Club, Neighborhood House, Portland Community College Campus Women’s Resource Source and more.

Lack of access to basic hygiene supplies can cause menstruators to feel helpless, embarrassed, cause them to miss school or work, or put their health at risk.

According to the Alliance for Period Supplies:

• More than two in five menstruators struggle with period poverty.
• Over one in three low-income women and girls reports missing work, school or a similar commitment due to a lack of access to period supplies.
• Specifically, one in four  students in the U.S. has missed class due to a lack of access to period supplies.

In Oregon, one in seven menstruating women and girls between the ages of 12 and 44 living below the federal poverty level.

How to help

Collections bins for the drive at located throughout Portland, Beaverton, Lake Oswego and Oregon City.

Product requests include: tampons, sanitary pads, panty liners, reusable pads and covers, reusable menstrual cups, ibuprofen and Motrin, and single-use hand sanitizers.

Donations can be made directly to the drive online and the proceeds will be used to purchase items to be added to period packs.

For a full list of participating locations, visit positivechargepdx.org/period-power.

Positive Charge! PDX is a Portland-based nonprofit organization dedicated to making a positive impact through community-driven initiatives. By partnering with local organizations and individuals, Positive Charge! PDX works to amplify kindness in the community.