Every May, during Period Poverty Awareness Week, we pause to talk about something that should never have been controversial in the first place: Access to period products.

At Ms. Moxie’s Moon Shop, this week is about more than statistics. It’s about dignity. It’s about health. It’s about community care. And it’s about the reality that in 2026, millions of people across the United States still struggle to access basic menstrual products.

The good news? The conversation around menstrual equity has changed dramatically over the last few years.

The harder truth? Access still hasn’t caught up.

The Reality of Period Poverty in 2026

Recent national studies continue to show just how widespread period poverty remains:

Nearly 1 in 4 teens in the United States struggle to afford period products.

1 in 3 adults who menstruate report difficulty accessing menstrual products.

Many students and workers still miss school, work, and everyday activities because they don’t have the products they need.

And perhaps most frustratingly, these numbers have not meaningfully improved over the last several years.

The latest State of the Period research found that teen access rates are essentially unchanged from prior surveys, despite dramatically increased public awareness. In other words: we’ve gotten better at talking about period poverty, but not yet good enough at solving it.

Rising costs of living and inflation have only intensified the issue for many families.

But There Has Been Progress

A decade ago, free period products in schools was considered a radical idea. Today, menstrual equity legislation is expanding across the country.

As of 2025:

Nearly 30 states and Washington, D.C. have laws supporting free menstrual products in schools.

More states have removed or reduced the “tampon tax,” recognizing period products as necessities rather than luxury items.

Federal menstrual equity legislation has been reintroduced to expand access in schools, shelters, correctional facilities, and workplaces.

Public conversations around menstruation are more open, honest, and normalized than ever before.

And that matters.

Because stigma has always been one of the biggest barriers to change.

The fact that younger generations increasingly view periods as a normal health experience — instead of something shameful or hidden — represents real cultural progress. We are finally starting to crack decades of silence around menstrual health.

But awareness alone doesn’t stock bathroom cabinets.

Community action does.

What the Ms. Moxie’s Community Has Already Accomplished

When we launched our first Clear the Table initiative in 2024, we hoped to make a small dent in period poverty locally.

What happened instead was something much bigger.

In 2024, our community donated enough period products to cover 115 periods.

Last year, you more than doubled that impact — helping provide enough products to cover 240 periods.

That growth means more than numbers.

It means students supported.

It means fewer impossible choices.

It means people feeling cared for, seen, and dignified.

It means this community showed up.

And honestly? We are endlessly grateful for that.

Our 2026 Goal: Cover 400 Periods

This year, we’re dreaming even bigger.

Our goal for Period Poverty Awareness Week 2026 is to help cover 400 periods through donated pads, tampons, liners, bras, and underwear.

And if the last two years have taught us anything, it’s this:

This community is capable of incredible things.

Throughout the week, you can participate in our Clear the Table initiative by:

Donating products directly in-shop

Purchasing products through our website for donation

Sharing educational resources and conversations online

Helping normalize discussions around menstrual health and equity

Because menstrual equity doesn’t begin in Congress.

It begins in communities.

It begins when people decide that no one should have to bleed without support.

Why This Work Matters

Period poverty isn’t just about products.

It affects education, mental health, physical health, confidence, and economic opportunity. It disproportionately impacts low-income communities, students, unhoused individuals, and people already navigating systemic barriers to care.

And while policy changes matter deeply, grassroots efforts matter too.

Small businesses. Community drives. Mutual aid. Local advocacy. Honest conversations.

That’s how culture shifts.

That’s how stigma breaks.

That’s how change becomes sustainable.

At Ms. Moxie’s, we believe doing good is simply good business — and that caring for people should never be considered radical.

So thank you for continuing to show up with generosity, compassion, and just the right amount of menstrual moxie.

Let’s Clear the Table togeth