Period Poverty Awareness Week (May 11-17, 2026) is a time to spotlight an issue that affects millions of people nationwide. Created by our friends at the Alliance for Period Supplies, this week is an opportunity to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and push for real solutions that ensure everyone has access to the products they need.
At Aunt Flow, we believe period care is basic care. No one should have to miss school, work or daily life because they do not have access to a pad or tampon. This week reminds us why the work matters and how much more there is to do.
What is Period Poverty?
Period poverty refers to the lack of access to period products and menstrual education. It also includes the stigma that prevents open conversations about periods.
People who experience period poverty can’t afford to buy the period products they need on a monthly basis, which results in them being unable to go to work, attend class or participate in their day-to-day routine.
This is not a small or isolated issue. It is a public health and equity issue.
By the Numbers
The data makes the urgency clear:
- 1 in 4 teens have struggled to afford period products.*
- 1 in 3 adults in the US struggle to access period products.**
- 33% of teens report missing class time due to a lack of access to period products.*
- 39% felt unable to do their best schoolwork due to limited access to period products.*
- 1 in 3 students report missing class due to a lack of access to products.*
- 18 states still charge sales tax on period products.***
***Alliance for Period Supplies
Expanding Access Through Partnership
That is why partnerships are critical in the fight against period poverty.
We are proud to share that Aunt Flow has joined the Alliance for Period Supplies as a Preferred National Vendor!
The Alliance for Period Supplies is a national network of organizations working to increase access to menstrual products for people in need. Through its member network, the Alliance distributes products to communities across the country.
As a Preferred National Vendor, all Allied members now have access to Aunt Flow products at the lowest prices available. Lower costs allow nonprofits and community organizations to stretch their budgets further and distribute more products to the people who need them most.
This partnership directly supports the goal of Period Poverty Awareness Week: expanding access and removing barriers. By making high-quality period products more affordable for distribution partners, we are helping ensure fewer missed school days, fewer missed work shifts and greater dignity for menstruators across the country.
When organizations collaborate and prioritize access, real change happens. Together with the Alliance for Period Supplies, we are expanding access and moving closer to a future where no one has to go without period care.
