This release written by Alison Fiebig of The Monthlies Project. In a powerful demonstration of community-driven change, The Monthlies Project has officially distributed 1 million period products across Northeast Wisconsin. What began as a small, volunteer-led effort in 2021 to meet an overlooked need has transformed into a bold movement for menstrual equity with students, schools, and entire communities rallying to end the stigma and stop period poverty in its tracks.

“This milestone isn’t just about the number. It’s about the thousands of students who didn’t have to leave school, who didn’t have to feel ashamed, and who knew that someone in their community cared,” said [Spokesperson Name], co-founder of The Monthlies Project. “This is what grassroots change looks like — local, urgent, and deeply human.”

Founded and fueled entirely by volunteers, The Monthlies Project was born from a simple, urgent truth: students were missing school because they didn’t have access to period products. In the years since, the project has grown into a regional force, working in direct partnership with schools and youth-serving community organizations to provide free period supplies, educate communities, and advocate for systemic policy change.

While volunteer run, Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin operates as the logistics partner (managing procurement, storage and distribution of the products), and the Women’s Fund of the Fox Valley Region acts as the fiscal and granting agent via The Monthlies Fund. Local organizations and businesses provide grant support, which enables The Monthlies Project to purchase period products at cost.

Impact By the Numbers: 

• 1,000,000+ period products distributed to date
• 165 distribution partners across Northeast Wisconsin are currently enrolled to receive product from The Monthlies Project
• Thousands of students reached, supported, and heard
• Zero paid staff — 100% volunteer-powered

But the work isn’t done. The Monthlies Project is now pushing for policy-level change and calling on leaders across Wisconsin — and the nation, alongside partners like Period Law — to recognize menstrual equity as a basic educational and health right.

“Period products should be as available as toilet paper in every school bathroom,” said [Second Spokesperson], a student advocate and youth advisor to The Monthlies Project. “This isn’t just a health issue. It’s about dignity, access, and equal opportunity.”

Distribution Ahead of Summer Break

On Monday, May 19, The Monthlies Project distributed 2,000 summer kits across Northeast Wisconsin to 48 schools and organizations serving school aged menstruators across 11 districts. Each drawstring bag includes one package of liners, pads, tampons, and a note of encouragement — reminders that someone cares, and that no one is alone in this struggle.

While schools supported by The Monthlies Project provide access to period products during the academic year, that access disappears once summer break begins. For many students, especially those who rely on these products from their schools, this creates a significant gap in essential care. The summer kits will help ensure that school-age menstruators can manage their periods with dignity and confidence throughout the summer months — without having to miss out on camps, jobs, or summer programs due to lack of supplies. These packs provide not just products, but peace of mind during a time when school-based support systems are unavailable.

Click here to read a blog spot and view photos from the summer kit packing event that took place on May 13.

A National Conversation 

Period poverty affects 1 in 5 students in the U.S., according to national surveys. As The Monthlies Project celebrates this 1-million milestone, they’re not just distributing products — they’re sparking a national conversation about how schools, governments, and communities can support students with the dignity they deserve.

About The Monthlies Project: 

The Monthlies Project is a community initiative aimed at providing menstrual health products to school-aged students and bringing awareness to the issue of period poverty and the educational inequity it creates. The Monthlies Fund, within the Women’s Fund for the Fox Valley Region, will be a resource to schools and community programs in the Fox Valley and products are sourced through a number of local community partners. For more information, visit MonthliesProject.com.