A study by Harvard Medical School last year found that nearly 22 million people have experienced period poverty, which is the lack of access to menstrual products, hygiene facilities, waste management, and/or education on menstruation. A study by Kotex that same year found that two in five people who menstruate struggle to afford period products regularly, and that one-third of those in low-income areas have had to miss work or school due to a lack of supplies. It is because of this that Access Period Omaha was founded. 

Access Period Omaha (APO), which began in January of this year, hopes to end period poverty in Omaha. In the seven months they have been in operation, they have distributed 40,000 menstrual products to people around the city by working with community and business leaders as well as other nonprofit organizations. They currently distribute through eight partner agencies and have plans to create Access Points throughout the city to have consistent and easy-to-access supplies.

They provide one-month and three-month kits for people, depending on their storage and housing, which include tampons or pads, liners, personal wipes, and disposal bags. APO has done donation drives at locations all around the city, and even had McGill Law, PC, LLO involved in a packing party back in July. 

APO was founded by Kristin Lowrey, an Omaha native and graduate of University of Nebraska at Kearney with a degree in Women’s Studies. She started volunteering with the Junior League of Omaha and Project Hope Pack, which would provide backpacks full of hygiene products, clothing, and necessities for children that were removed from their homes.

“Menstrual supplies aren’t covered by any government safety net programs like WIC or SNAP.” Lowrey said, when speaking on why she created APO. “When people don’t have access to the products they need, they either stay home from work or school (perpetuating the cycle of poverty), or use unsafe and uncomfortable alternatives like toilet paper, socks, cardboard, or baby diapers. Our goal is to give people freedom and dignity by providing this basic human need.”

They are in the process of a brand update and will be launching a new website soon at accessperiod.com. They are also currently finishing up a month-long donation drive at iThinkFit Gym at 2424 S 156th Circle. When talking about their mission, Lowrey said, “This is an issue I’ve always cared deeply about, and I’m honored that so many helpers in our community have trusted me to take it on.”

If you would like to learn more about what the organization is doing currently, you can go to their Facebook or Instagram at Access Period (accessperiod). If you would like to donate to their organization, they do accept monetary donations through linktr.ee/accessperiod. You can also get involved via groups or companies by hosting product donation drives or period kit packing parties. You are also able to go to their Target, Walmart, and Amazon wishlists to send them products directly. You can view all of this at linktr.ee/accessperiod.