Did you know that the average woman spends $18,171 on periods throughout her life? Or that women experiencing homelessness are often forced to use materials like cotton balls or cardboard to deal with their periods instead of hygiene products? Or that all but 10 states in the US tax feminine hygiene products?

For my mitzvah project, I will be collecting feminine hygiene products (pads and tampons) and assorted little toiletries (those small bottles that hotels give out). I will then host a packing party to make care packages with these supplies, which will be donated to Cocoon House (a local non-profit that helps homeless and at-risk youth) for distribution to people in need.

I chose this project because I think it is extremely unjust that not all people have access to supplies for basic bodily functions, seeing as all people do have basic bodily functions. Lack of access to menstrual supplies should never limit someone from doing what they’d like to do.

To learn more about this project and the menstrual movement in general, visit period.org.

If you’d like to help but can’t donate products, you can also sign a petition or write to your representatives here.