2 in 5 people who menstruate struggled to buy period products in the last year due to a lack of income.
The Period Pantry Project exists to ensure that anyone in the Columbus area who needs menstrual products is able to access them, regardless of income, lack of transportation, or any other barrier. We work with individuals and organizations, because we know that ending period poverty is a collaborative effort. Please join us in our work to end period poverty, decrease period stigma, and improve menstrual health knowledge in our community.
Our Story
In 2019, in my role as a Community Health Worker, I encountered a number of clients who needed period products; though Columbus is such a resource-rich city, I quickly learned that there wasn’t a consistent, accessible source for period products, especially a way to obtain enough products for an entire period. I immediately flashed back to my own experience as a newly divorced mother to a small child, struggling to stay afloat financially - I often couldn’t spare enough money for period products. At the time, my workplace at the time offered pads and tampons in the bathrooms; I would wait until the end of the day and go to each bathroom in the building to collect enough supplies for the week. I felt so ashamed; I didn’t want anyone to know I couldn’t afford something so simple.
I’ve never forgotten that feeling, and seeing that reflected back to me and not having an answer for the problem, I decided that Columbus needs a solution; it turns out that a lot of people agreed, and so we created The Period Pantry in January 2020. I’ve been overwhelmed by the amount of support and engagement we have already received from the community, and I look forward to our continued growth as an organization.
- Jill Guinan, Founder
Period Poverty Facts
*The following statistics reflect data for cisgender women and girls; these statistics do not reflect data for people who menstruate who are trans or nonbinary. The Period Pantry is a resource for everyone who menstruates - we know that these numbers would likely be different if they reflected the entire scope of the menstruating population, but unfortunately we do not have that data at this time.
A quarter of Black (23%) and Latina (24%) people with periods strongly agree that they've struggled to afford period products in the past year.*
27% of all respondents said the COVID-19 pandemic made it difficult to access period products, with two-thirds (65%) of those who have struggled stating they lacked access because they could not afford them.*
Over one-third (38%) of low-income women report missing work, school or similar events due to lack of access to period supplies.*
Nearly seven in ten (68%) people agree that period poverty is a public health issue, yet only 4% of Americans are aware of a local resource where free or reduced cost period supplies are available.*
In Ohio, 1 in 5 women and girls between the ages of 12 and 44 lives below the poverty line.*
Lack of access to period supplies is linked to using substitute products (toilet tissue or socks), stretching product usage, and missing important events.*
An overwhelming 88% of women agree that period products are a basic necessity.*
State and federal safety-net programs cannot be used to purchase period supplies.*
* Source: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-study-by-u-by-kotex-shows-35-increase-in-period-poverty-since-2018-301297210.html
Our Impact
People Served This Year: 3,958
Number of Pads Distributed This Year: 83,414
Number of Tampons Distributed This Year: 59,179
Number of Menstrual Cups Distributed This Year: 371
Products Distributed to Partners This Year: 24,902
Total Products Distributed January - October 2023:
143,901
Data as of November 1, 2023.
The Period Pantry in the News
How can you support LGBTQ+ clients? Ask them! - Alliance for Period Supplies
The Period Pantry Is On A Mission To Ease The Burden Of Period Poverty - Columbus Navigator
Period pantry donates sanitary supplies to people in need NBC4
Our Partners
Center for Healthy Families
Riverview International Center
Health Center at Faith Mission
Southwest Public Libraries
Reaching for the Shining Starz
Little Bottoms Free Store
Motherful
Victory Ministries, Center of Hope
Early College Academy
The Purpose Center Church
CHOICES for Victims of Domestic Violence
YMCA Columbus
Focus Learning North
God's Hygiene
CompDrug
A Step in the Right Direction
Volunteers of America Ohio Indiana
Community Refugee and Immigration Services
Huckleberry House - Marshbrook Place
NNEMAP Food Pantry
Sanctuary Night
Our Board
Jill Guinan, President & Founder
I grew up in Lancaster, Ohio and moved to Columbus in 2007. I earned my Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Ohio Dominican University in 2013, I became a Certified Community Health Worker in 2015 and enrolled at the Ohio State University College of Social Work and College of Public Health in 2017 for a dual degree graduate program. Through my work experience, I have worked with children and families in multiple settings. My experience as a single parent has made me passionate about helping others in that situation because I know that I couldn’t be where I am today without the support of my friends, family, and community.
Melanie Saunders, Vice President
I'm from Lancaster, Ohio and moved to Columbus in 2017. I've worked a variety of customer service roles throughout my life, helping people from all different backgrounds. I was excited about the opportunity to work with The Period Pantry because throughout my life, it's been evident that products that are basic needs are not always readily available, and I'm excited to help change that for some people.
Tatjana Saunders, Secretary
I'm from Lancaster, Ohio and attended Ohio University - Athens where I earned a BBA in Marketing and Management Information Systems in 2016. Post grad I lived in New York from 2016 to 2019 working for a large healthcare system, first in their laboratory department and then doing communications for their private physician network. I came back to Ohio to continue my studies and am currently in a Master's of Public Health Program through Ohio University. I am passionate about giving back to my community and am so excited to be on board with The Period Pantry!
Meghana Gorur, Board Member
I grew up in Pittsburgh, PA and came to Columbus to attend The Ohio State University where I received my Bachelor’s in Environmental Public Health. Health Equity is one of my passions and I’m very excited to be part of an organization that is doing its part to provide care and resources to those in need.
Marilena Wolf, Board Member
I was born and raised here in Columbus, Ohio! I moved to Cleveland in 2016 to attend Case Western Reserve University, where I simultaneously earned my B.A. in Cognitive Science from the College of Arts & Sciences and my M.A. in Bioethics and Medical Humanities from the School of Medicine. I moved back to Columbus to begin my medical education at Ohio University’s Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Dublin Campus. I’m hoping to pursue a career caring for reproductive health in underserved populations. I believe that when people are given the support to live healthily and well, communities thrive! I’m so proud to work with the Period Pantry in providing resources and care to empower our communities’ to live healthfully.