Period poverty is a situation in which someone who is menstruating is unable to afford products such as pads, tampons, or liners which can help them manage menstrual bleeding. (UMICH) Many consider period poverty both a public health crisis, and a human rights violation. Hygiene products are essential items that are incredibly limited to unhoused people and those who live in shelters. Starting a period product donation drive for your local shelter can help immensely!

Click “Learn More” for more information on period poverty 

What You’ll Need: Here are some essentials that you’ll need to get started. Once you have them you’re ready to go to the next step! 

• Bins or boxes to house the products you are collecting 
• Money for shipping (where necessary) or to cover the costs of transportation to the drop off location  

Item Collection Guidelines: 

• Aim to collect unopened boxes/packages of period products rather than individually wrapped items.

Where to Collect Donations:  

• Great places to collect donations are in schools/community centers, outside of local malls, grocery stores and drug stores.

Where to donate: Use the directories below to find a shelter in your area. You can also use the call guide included in this post to contact your local shelter and ask if they are taking donations and what the donation process is. 

• US National Women’s Shelter Directory
• Canadian National Women’s Shelter Directory
• US National Homeless Shelter Directory
• Toronto Homeless Shelter Directory

Donation Drive Call Script: 

Introductions: Hi! My name is [Your Name], and I would like to donate feminine hygiene products to your shelter. May I please speak with someone about delivering these donations? 

Explain the Donation Drive:  I learned that there is a shortage of feminine hygiene products in shelter so I have decided to start a donation drive through Révolutionnaire, the social network for changemakers. I would like to donate these feminine hygiene products to your shelter. Are you able to accept donations at this time? 

If yes: Ask them to confirm the address of the drop off location and ask if packages can be mailed in. If packages can not be mailed in, ask when the best time to drop them off is and who you should ask for when you drop off the donations. 

If no:  Use one of the directories to find another shelter in your area to donate the items to! 

Amplify: Post about your donation drive in the lounge to amplify it and gain support!

Post and inspire! 

• Comment the number of items you collected and a photo with the boxes you have collected to inspire others and encourage them to start a donation drive too!

To learn more about period poverty and homelessness, click the “Learn More” button below.