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More than a dozen SA businesses start period product collections to push against period poverty

The group Periodpalooza is leading the accessibility efforts. With one permanent ‘period pantry on the West Side, the group is spreading donation efforts across the city.

SAN ANTONIO – Andrea Ley, owner of Olla Express Cafe, said there is a reason for her Strawberry Horchata recipe.

“It’s a pink color,” Ley said. “I think it goes really well with the Periodpalooza’s work.”

Olla Express Cafe is one of the 20 businesses fundraising and collecting donations for period products through December. This weekend, a portion of the proceeds from the horchata drink go to Periodpalooza, the group leading these donation efforts across San Antonio.

Periodpalooza works to bridge the accessibility gap of period poverty for more people in the city.

“This is just the beginning,” said Olivia Orona, event director for Periodpalooza. “We would love to get as many products as possible.”

Data shows that 16.9 million people who menstruate in the United States are living in poverty. Jorge Medina, the CEO of the San Antonio Diaper Bank, said he’s seen an increase in demand for period products this season.

“We’ve seen an uptick on the number of items being requested,” Medina said. “For those families that are struggling -- you hear it every day, you know how it makes a difference.”

Periodpalooza has a partnership with Chiflada’s Cocktail Bar on the West Side for a physical “period pantry.” It’s a cabinet in the fencing that stores free period products, like menstrual pads and tampons.

Periodpalooza has a list of businesses collecting donations in boxes on its social media pages.


ALSO ON KSAT.COM

Community members push for period product accessibility with new pantry on West Side


About the Authors
Avery Everett headshot

Avery Everett is a news reporter and multimedia journalist at KSAT 12 News. Avery is a Philadelphia native. If she’s not at the station, she’s either on a hiking or biking trail. A lover of charcuterie boards and chocolate chip cookies, Avery’s also looking forward to eating her way through San Antonio, one taco shop at a time!

Gavin Nesbitt headshot

Gavin Nesbitt is an award-winning photojournalist and video editor who joined KSAT in September 2021. He won a Lone Star Emmy, a Regional Murrow, a Texas Broadcast News Award, a Headliners Foundation Silver Showcase Award and 2 Telly Awards for his work covering the deadly school shooting in Uvalde, Texas.

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