Health & Healthcare

Always Donates Feminine Hygiene Products to Help North America Girls Stay in School & Stay Confident

Aug 16, 2018 2:10 PM ET
Campaign: P&G | Gender Equality

The most recent Always Confidence & Puberty Survey reveals that nearly one in five American girls1 and one in seven Canadian Girls2 have either left school early or missed school entirely because they did not have access to period products. At puberty, a girl’s confidence plummets, with the onset of menstruation marking the lowest moment for many girls3. But the drop in confidence is so much worse for girls that lack access to period protection. It can force her to miss out on important confidence-building activities in the classroom, on the field, in extra-curricular school programs, and limit her potential far beyond puberty. While lack of access to period products is typically associated with girls in other countries, period poverty isn’t just someone else’s problem. It’s happening right here in North America.

At Always we believe every girl should have access to period protection.

That’s why Always is committed to helping #EndPeriodPoverty by sparking conversation and taking action. In the U.S., Always is teaming up with Feeding America, a long-standing partner, on a mission to donate 15 million period products to girls in need this school year.4 The products will be donated through Feeding America’s network and school pantry program. These programs provide food, toiletries and personal care products to children who are most in need. In Canada, Always has a goal to donate over 1.5 million pads4 to Canadian school girls through schools that support the Always Puberty And Confidence Education Program.

You can help girls & join our mission to #EndPeriodPoverty. Together, let’s make sure every girl has the period products she needs to stay in school, because helping her stay in education is key to her growth.

Here's how you can help:

  • Join the conversation, and raise awareness of the issue in North America.
  • Post a throwback school photo in social media, tagging @Always (@Always_brand on Instagram) and using the hashtag #EndPeriodPoverty, to trigger a donation of one month’s supply of Always pads to girls in need, through Feeding America in the U.S. and schools that support the Always Puberty and Confidence Education Program in Canada (before 8/20/18 11:59 PM EST). 5
  • Purchase Always Pads and trigger a donation of product to North America school girls in need (before September 9th).

The #EndPeriodPoverty donation program is one part of our long-term commitment to ensuring all girls at puberty have the sanitary protection they need to stay confident. For 35 years, Always had been championing girls’ confidence.

The Always Puberty & Confidence education programs reach more than 17 million girls annually and in just the past 10 years, Always’ product access programs have delivered more than 80 million pads to girls who need them most around the world.

Further, the Always #LikeAGirl movement is driving societal change to make sure girls everywhere keep their confidence at puberty and beyond.

Survey Methodology

1 Always Confidence and Puberty Study, Nov. 2017; based on U.S. females 16-24 years old; 2016 U.S. census.

2 The Always Confidence & Puberty Study, March 2018; based on Canada females 16-24 years old; 2016 Canada census.

3 The Always Confidence & Puberty Wave II Study, Dec. 2014 based on females aged 16 to 49 years old

Donation Mechanic

4 For every Always Pads pack purchased in the U.S. between 7/29/2018 and 9/8/2018, Always will donate one pad to US school girls through Feeding America. For every Always Pads pack purchased in Canada between 7/29/2018 and 9/8/2018, Always will donate one pad to Canadian school girls through schools that support the Always Puberty and Confidence Education Program. Total estimated donation of over 15 million pads is based on expected sales in US & Canada. Actual donation will be determined by actual product sales.

5 For every throwback school picture posted, before 8/20/18 11:59 PM EST, in the US, that tags @Always (on Twitter/Facebook) or @Always_Brand (on Instagram) and uses the hashtag #EndPeriodPoverty, Always will donate one month’s supply (twelve pads), to US school girls through Feeding America. For every throwback school picture posted in Canada, before 8/20/18 11:59 PM EST that tag @Always (on Twitter/Facebook) or @Always_brand (on Instagram) and use the hashtag #EndPeriodPoverty, Always will donate one month’s supply (twelve pads), to Canadian school girls through schools that support the Always Puberty and Confidence Education Program (up to a maximum of 100,000 pads). Profile settings must be set to public for post to be counted.

The #EndPeriodPoverty is the brand’s next step in its commitment to continued puberty empowerment.