The Most Overlooked Back-to-School Supply: Period Products

As families prepare for a new school year by shopping for backpacks, notebooks and pencils, one essential item is often left off the list: period supplies.

For thousands of girls, the inability to afford menstrual products creates an invisible barrier to education. Families struggling to cover basic necessities often cannot purchase period supplies, forcing students to rely on toilet paper, rags or other unreliable substitutes. The result is missed school, lost learning opportunities and unnecessary embarrassment.

Research shows that 84% of girls report they have missed school—or know someone who has missed school—because they lacked access to period products. Missing several days of school each month can amount to nearly 20% of the school year.

The Alliance for Period Supplies of SWFL has participated in a number of Free Back-to-School Events in Collier and Lee counties to provide these essential school supplies to families in need.

We have attended and provided free product giveaways at:

• Grace Place on July 18

• Suncoast Bank on August 1

• Florida Blue Bonita on August 1

• Lipman Family Farms on August 8