Prepared by Ashley Rodriguez

Overview

Nationwide, menstrual poverty is a stigmatized issue that is traditionally discussed behind closed doors. In order to help raise awareness and end the stigma in my community, I started the Period Project, a fundraiser to increase knowledge about the dehumanizing effects of menstrual poverty. With support from family, friends, and community members, I collected a grand total of $1,300 funds. All donations are being used to fund the purchase of menstrual products in high demand at local community and women’s shelters.

Team

My team was comprised of young professionals and AASuccess mentors. I led the fundraiser by contacting local women’s shelters and potential donors to allocate money for the Period Project. My mentor Dave Nguyen contributed his management expertise to help me lay out the goals and next steps for my project. I received help from Wendy Yuan, who led marketing efforts to create a flier for the Period Project. Another AASuccess student, Daniel Nguyen, helped create donation boxes for the promotion of the Period Project. By means of the AASuccess Facebook friends, I was able to touch many people with my message virtually, garnering $625 donations.

Goals

Raise awareness for Menstrual Poverty: The taboo on menstruation is thoroughly surrounded by shame, secrecy, and stigma. The average woman spends about $200 on menstrual products including pads, tampons, and liners. For homeless women who cannot afford this financial burden, makeshift cloths supplant modern menstrual products. Improvised sanitary products such as newspapers, socks, and old clothes are used in public facilities without sanitary disposals, clean water, or private areas.
Collect at least $1,000 donations: Although there is an increasing demand for products in women shelters, some shelters do not receive enough government funding for menstrual products. Even though women’s shelters are the main suppliers of menstrual products for homeless women, most provide minimal pads or tampons.

Specifications (How)

I created a GoFundMe page and a Facebook campaign . Through promotion of the Period Project on the AASuccess Facebook page and on my personal social media account, I established a grassroots movement against period poverty in my community. I also created donation boxes that were put out in the AASuccess office, the main office of Falls Church High School, and at the entrance of KCS Landscaping’s headquarters at the Marriott Hotel in Fairview Park.

Expected Outcome

The overarching expected outcome of the Period Project is to increase general knowledge about menstrual poverty nationwide. In speaking with neighbors and potential donors, I had the chance to not only tell my story, but also garner support for my cause. I hope to destigmatize menstrual poverty in my community, even if by a small margin. I also hope to leave a lasting impact of change in the women’s shelters that I will provide with menstrual products.

Result-to-date

To date, I have contacted 12 women’s shelters in the local community that have demonstrated the need for menstrual hygiene products. With the generous donations that I’ve collected, I will be donating $1,300 worth of feminine hygiene products next January to the following shelters and organizations: Homestretch, Thrive DC, A-Span Ending Homelessness in Arlington, Bridges to Independence, Patrick Henry’s Family Shelter, and BRAWS. Most have provided me with wish lists of products that are of highest priority at their shelters. Each has indicated a specific need for travel-size or full-size toiletries and sanitary pads.

To support or volunteer for this project, please contact Ashley at Ashley.Rodriguez@aasuccess.org.