Mission 1: Period Products for People in Need
Period product distribution is our primary method for getting pads, tampons, and liners into the hands of menstruators in need. We donate quality period products at no cost to over 100 community partners in Central Virginia. In 2024, we hit a major milestone: over 1 million period products donated since our inception in 2013!
At this time, we serve the area within about 1 hour’s radius of Richmond, Virginia.
So how does our period product distribution program work?
1. Sourcing products
Sylvia’s Sisters purchases pads, tampons, and liners in bulk from a variety of suppliers, taking advantage of sales whenever possible. We also collect period products via donation drives hosted by our volunteers.
2. Kit-packing events
Period products can be provided to our partners in their original packaging or in “period kits” – bags containing enough pads, tampons, and/or liners for one menstruator for one month. We host large-scale kit-packing parties with the help of a dedicated network of community and corporate partners.
3. Fostering strong partnerships
Partnerships are crucial to fulfilling our mission. We provide kits to a variety of organizations including schools, libraries, churches, emergency shelters, free health clinics, mutual aid groups, immigrant support organizations, and food and hygiene banks. Apply to become a partner.
4. Providing direct outreach
We regularly distribute period products at resource fairs hosted by partners in low-income communities. Every resource fair provides numerous opportunities to place these essential supplies directly in the hands of menstruators in need.
5. Tracking data
We carefully monitor distributions and collect data from partners to ensure we are meeting the needs of the communities we serve.
“It has been a blessing to have this resource available for the students; even the attendance has been improved in the schools [to whom] I have been able to provide the products.”
ESL Family Engagement Specialist, Richmond Public Schools
What Are Period Kits?
Period kits are bags containing enough pads, tampons, and/or liners for one menstruator for one month. Volunteers assemble these kits at period kit packing parties with assistance from our staff. Together, we ensure that kits are neat, uniform, and can be easily slid into a backpack or purse to help menstruators manage their cycles on-the-go.
There are three different types of period kits:
- Pad kits (15 pads and 5 panty liners)
- Tampon kits (15 tampons and 5 panty liners)
- Mixed kits (10 pads, 5 tampons, and 5 panty liners)
Sylvia’s Sisters is happy to provide guidance on what specific types of kits would be the most beneficial for your school or organization.
83% of schools who received period products from Sylvia’s Sisters in Richmond, Henrico and Chesterfield had a decrease in chronic absenteeism for female students in 2023-2024.
Why do we distribute leggings and underwear to schools?
Many students, particularly those from low-income families, do not have enough period supplies to stay present and focused for an entire school day. As a result, menstruators often leave school early after bleeding through their clothing.
This issue leads to chronic absenteeism, decreased school performance, and feelings of shame and embarrassment.
In addition to period supplies, we donate leggings and underwear to students who experience these accidents. This program not only helps improve grades and decrease school absenteeism, it also addresses the emotional and psychological well-being of students by fostering supportive educational environments, promoting conversations about period health, and empowering students to focus on their studies without unnecessary stress about their periods.
“These students know they can go to the nurse to get underwear and a change of pants so they don’t have to feel self-conscious walking around with stains on their clothes, or leave school to go home which will affect their attendance. Again, this would not have been possible without the assistance from Sylvia’s Sisters.”
Communities in School Representative, Chesterfield County Public Schools
Do we provide direct services to menstruators in need?
Absolutely! At Sylvia’s Sisters, we believe that all menstruators, regardless of their economic situation, should have access to the products they need to manage their monthly cycle with dignity and comfort.
We have partnered with many organizations to create a network of locations, many on the bus line, that carry our products for menstruators to pick up as needed. View the map.
We also collaborate with local service providers in low-income communities to attend resource and community fairs. At these events, we hand out period products and menstrual health education materials directly to menstruators in need, providing immediate relief to local neighborhoods that experience high rates of period poverty.
Mission 2: Menstrual Health Education
There is no state requirement for public schools to offer students education around menstrual health. While most Virginia schools have family life classes, a recent study showed that almost half of teens felt confused and unprepared when they started their first period; two-thirds felt scared.
Studies show that increasing menstrual health education helps menstruators manage their periods more comfortably and confidently, prevents negative health outcomes, and improves participation in sports.
Conversely, a lack of menstrual health education has been shown to disrupt engagement in school.
If you are interested in hosting a menstrual health class for young menstruators, please contact information@sylviassisters.org.
Mission 3: Advocacy
Although a great deal of people (26% of the world’s population!) menstruates, periods are still considered a taboo subject. Sustaining this taboo is a leading cause of period poverty. At Sylvia’s Sisters, we work toward breaking the stigma surrounding periods by simply talking about it! Speaking openly about menstruation, both privately and publicly, empowers menstruators to learn more about their bodies, teaches non-menstruators how they can support the menstruators in their lives, and spreads awareness of period poverty so underserved menstruators can more easily gain access to the resources they need.
We attend a high number of speaking engagements and corporate events to explain what period poverty is, who it affects most, and how to get involved in our efforts to make period products and education more accessible and affordable for all. These events also give us an opportunity to collect donations, recruit volunteers, and distribute pamphlets describing our work.
We reach out to schools and organizations to explain the importance of providing these products to the students and people they serve.
Additionally, members of Sylvia’s Sisters have advocated for the inclusion of period products in local schools in the Virginia General Assembly and the removal of the period tax; both measures were passed in 2020 and 2023.
“It is a pleasure and a blessing to collaborate with Sylvia’s Sisters. The staff could not be any more friendly and helpful…Their work is needed and essential. Not only for health and hygiene, but in some cases for safety as well.”
Program Director, Liberation Family Resource Center