Culmore gets a period pantry

Women and girls in disadvantaged areas will have access to free menstrual hygiene products thanks to an initiative by the Junior League of Northern Virginia.

The group recently launched a “period pantry” at the Culmore Family Resource Center in Bailey’s Crossroads and two other locations, in Springfield and Sterling.

The Junior League says the period pantries are designed to address the critical issue of “period poverty,” which affects an estimated 20 percent of women in the area.

“These period pantries are more than just a resource,” said Junior League President Michelle Freeman. “They are a statement that we, as a community, recognize and act upon the basic needs of all women. It’s about ensuring dignity, promoting health, and removing barriers.”