An organization at Mississippi State University is working to provide feminine hygiene products to those in need while fighting the stigma surrounding menstruation.
Period Project Starkville, established on campus in 2021, recently launched a donation drive at Starkville High School, helping to supply students with tampons, pads and other menstrual products. Members collected items and made their first delivery on March 4. The group plans to maintain a steady supply to the school.
Sofia DeStefano, a junior biological sciences major, said that the Starkville High initiative is just the beginning.
“I think reaching out to Starkville High School was kind of the kick-starter to a bigger plan that we have,” DeStefano said. “We want to work with the whole Starkville community but our main goal is to have free resources, education and supplies for everybody on Mississippi State’s campus too.”
Kaylee Lawson, a sophomore educational psychology major, said she joined the club to help girls and women who do not have easy access to period products.
“I hope to make a difference within the Starkville community because I know there are so many places where women and young girls are lacking these resources,” Lawson said.
According to a 2023 survey commissioned by Thinx and PERIOD, 23% of teens surveyed have struggled to afford period products. On top of that, 44% reported stress and embarrassment due to the lack of access to period products.
Period Project organizes the donations into storage containers with drawers called “Hygiene Hubs.” Each drawer is labeled to contain specific products such as tampons, pads and sanitary wipes.
The Hygiene Hubs in the restrooms at Starkville High School allow women to grab products they need when they are lacking products at home or when they start their period unexpectedly. A QR code inside the top drawer allows students to request refills when supplies run low.
DeStefano said that the Hygiene Hubs will be regularly maintained.
“The hope is that a member from our organization will be able to get to the school within the next one to two days to refill,” DeStefano said.
Period Project members regularly visit the school to restock the Hygiene Hubs, earning service hours in the process. The organization also encourages members to learn about period poverty through educational resources shared on its Instagram page and biweekly Webex meetings.
Camille Bullock, a junior graphic design major and the club’s president highlighted the importance of the club’s community involvement.
“As long as we are hosting a drive, products are coming in — and it’s really great because all of our members are really involved,” Bullock said.
In addition to donations, Bullock said the organization is already aiming to partner with women’s health brands in hopes that they will be able to provide more feminine hygiene products for the Hygiene Hubs.
The organization is also attempting to bring awareness to the state of Mississippi to eradicate the sales tax on period products. Bullock emphasized the need for legislative action.
“I think it’s something that Mississippi needs to address, like other states are addressing, and it’s never going to become an unstigmatized subject if we don’t do anything about it,” Bullock said.
Period Project Starkville fosters a sense of community among its members all while tackling issues related to menstrual health. Former club president and MSU alumna Hannah Knotts said the organization goes beyond donations and advocacy.
“It is beyond just the conversation about periods,” Knotts said. “… At the end of the day, it’s about a group of girls coming together talking about things that are not so often talked about relating to women.”
DeStefano echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the club’s mission.
“This is an organization that cares about educating people and for serving their community and providing for these girls and women,” DeStefano said. “Real people are being affected by these issues, and this is how we can fix it, and that’s what this service project is.”
