When we talk about basic needs insecurity, hygiene products (things like shampoo, lotion, period products, and toothpaste) often go overlooked. Many basic needs programs focus on big issues like housing, food security, and health care, but forget that day-to-day expenses can be just as important to someone’s dignity and ability to thrive. A study of period product affordability found that almost two thirds (64%) of people who menstruate have trouble affording care products. ^1 And public benefits programs like SNAP and WIC explicitly don’t cover necessities like soap, shampoo, and toothpaste. When hygiene needs intersect with parenting, it can be even harder to afford the basics. One in three parents in the U.S. reports not being able to afford enough diapers for their kids. ^2 In the spirit of Women’s History Month, and [promoting gender equity on campuses](http://blog.best-fit.app/2022/03/08/how-student-support-professionals-can-affirm-a-gender-inclusive-campus/ ), we’re shining a light on some of the less-considered needs your students might face.

Some local food banks or shelters might have hygiene products available for clients. However, these products are often scarce, and visiting these organizations can sometimes be a time-consuming, uncomfortable experience. If that’s not an option for your students, Georgia has a couple of distribution programs dedicated to personal care and hygiene products:

If local organizations are out of reach in your community (or students can’t access them easily), consider starting a resource or product drive within your department. Kick start the effort by contacting PERIOD, a nonprofit organization working to combat period poverty through advocacy, education, and service. You can order free hygiene products from them and ask coworkers and administrators to match the order with a donation. One or two bottles of shampoo, or a small gift card that allows a student to choose their own products, can go a long way towards improving student quality of life. Spread the word so students know these resources are available, and make sure there are no barriers or stipulations that might limit access to the products. (You should also ensure that the products you provide don’t go against any organizational policies).

PERIOD can also help get you started with organizing and hosting service events to continue the effort. They offer guidelines for product drives, panel discussions, and care package assembly.

If your institution doesn’t already provide menstrual products in all bathrooms, consider advocating for a policy change to make them available. A lot of individuals rely on schools, community centers, and libraries to access period products because they are often provided for free, without question.

For other hygiene products, if your institution has a food pantry or student resource center, consider advocating for an established location for free self-care products. This can be difficult – these products are rarely donated and organizations often don’t want to advertise services like pantries for fear of the public image. However, having the resource available for students makes future advocacy efforts easier (like pushing to expand an existing pantry program).

If you’d like more guidance on how to advocate, Aunt Flow has a great guide to getting free menstrual products on campus. Learn how to build a support system, budget accordingly, respond to objections and concerns, and gain other tools for making a change at your school.

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^1: Sebert Kuhlmann, Anne PhD, MPH; Peters Bergquist, Eleanor MA, MSPH; Danjoint, Djenie MPH; Wall, L. Lewis MD, DPhil Unmet Menstrual Hygiene Needs Among Low-Income Women, Obstetrics & Gynecology: February 2019 - Volume 133 - Issue 2 - p 238-244 (https://journals.lww.com/greenjournal/Fulltext/2019/02000/Unmet_Menstrual_Hygiene_Needs_Among_Low_Income.2.aspx) ^2: Diaper Need and Its Impact on U.S. Families, National Diaper Bank Network, (2019) (https://nationaldiaperbanknetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Diaper-Need-and-Its-Impact-on-US-Families.pdf)