May is Menstrual Hygiene Month
BRAWS is Supporting The Free Period Pantry
May is Menstrual Hygiene Month and May 28th is World Menstrual Hygiene Day.
The mission for 2025 is Together for a #PeriodFriendlyWorld.
This year BRAWS is partnering with The Free Period Pantry to build, install ,and supply 2 Period Pantries in Northern Virginia.
Help us raise $2500 to make period supplies free and accessible to all!
A Free Period Pantry is a freestanding wooden cabinet that houses pads and tampons. The community donates these supplies, and any member of the community can stock a pantry. Then, anyone who needs these products can visit and take what they need. There are a few reasons why the period pantry is an innovative solution to period poverty. First is sustainability, as the pantry runs on direct donations to the pantry, cutting down a middle man or logistical burden. Second is anonymity, as an anonymous process protects the privacy of users. Third is that the pantry is available 24/7, allowing people to access products when they need them most, regardless of the time of day or night. Last is that a pantry is easy to set up and can be adapted to fit the needs of the community, placed in public spaces, schools, churches, or other community centers.
More about The Free Period Pantry: The Free Period Pantry was started in 2022 by three James Madison High School students to provide those in need with free pads and tampons. Their first period pantry was installed at Emmaus United Church of Christ in Vienna, VA. Since then they have installed two other period pantries in the Oakton and Vienna.