Im turning 32 soon!  I’ve never cared much for my birthday so I’ve decided to pair it with something that I care about a lot- which is giving back and improving someone's life. 

A year ago I went off birth control for the first time in 17 years and decided it was time to embrace my natural (not influenced by bonus hormones) cycle. It was then that I started using period underwear - an eco friendly, cost effective, comfortable and safe alternative to tampons and pads. Transitioning to period underwear from disposable products was seamless (birth control not so much- hormones are wild!) and my only regret was that I hadn’t made the move sooner. 

Which brings me to the point at hand- Period poverty is real. Individuals with periods aged 18-24 are the group in this country with the highest level of poverty - 21.35% as of 2019.  While making calls on behalf of Project Angel Food to speak with their clients about access to menstrual products, I found out how common period poverty is - many skip work and miss appointments because they do not have any menstrual products or easy access to purchasing them (transport, $). Frequently delivering disposable menstrual products is expensive, not efficient, and logistically complicated! The cost of these products add up every month and there hasn’t been a one size fits all solution until recently. That’s where @theperiodcompany comes in. They make inclusive, affordable, super absorbent period underwear sized from XS-6X that can be washed in a sink or a washing machine and reused for a long time (the environment thanks you!). In partnership with Project Angel Food and the period company I’ve started a fundraiser  [right here right now] to raise money to purchase as many period underwear possible for the [150+] individuals who are part of this program. On average, people with periods spend about $100 a year on disposable period products. For half the cost, a person can be provided with enough period underwear for the entirety of their period - the underwear is durable, last years, and reduces landfill waste. 

The funds donated go directly to Project Angel Food through the just giving platform. I will call the clients myself to coordinate sizes, delivery and share stories of impact. A donation of even $6 can make a huge difference in the life of someone living with period poverty. 

thank you, thank you, thank you!