The term “period poverty” is used to describe and bring global awareness and action to lack of access to period products in our most vulnerable populations. Of all the items we provide, tampons, pads and other period products are the most essential. Menstruators cannot go without these products and there are no substitutes available. They are also the most expensive hygiene product we buy and have the shortest life cycle of any product we provide. For example, we can buy four toothbrushes for $1, or, for the same $1, one box of eight tampons. As you might guess, feminine care products are the items most requested by the organizations we serve.