The lack of period products in North Carolina schools stains the lives of students, as it continues to be a taboo subject for many. In 2022, the state government allocated $250,000 to schools for period products, however only half of the schools that applied received the funding due to it running out too quickly. Period Project North Carolina (PPNC), a nonprofit student-run organization, has been working to implement period product dispensers at Green Hope since the end of the 2021 school year. 

Rose Rosaleen (‘24), Sarah Pazokian (‘24), Shuban Gouru (‘23) and 85 other student ambassadors from PPNC are working with Mrs. Alison Cleveland to install period product dispensers in 12 of the girls’ bathrooms. 

The dispensers themselves are estimated to arrive by the end of September and will be on trial for two to three weeks. In addition to the bathroom dispensers, PPNC is also looking to provide Period Packages for students with lower income.

The students initially approached Mrs. Cleveland before the 2022-23 school year began. Mrs. Cleveland recalled being thrilled by the cause, saying, “the supplies exist and are accessible, but students have to ask.” 

By eliminating the extra step of having to ask for menstrual products, the dispensers will remove a significant obstacle for students.

“This would take learning time out of their school day,” said Rose and Sarah, the cofounders of PPNC. “Previously, at Green Hope if someone got their period during school and had no products on hand themselves, they would have to go to the front office and ask for student services.” 

The dispensers will be kept permanently if they are not damaged. “We will be monitoring how they are used and how they are being treated. If they could be used responsibly that would be great,” Mrs. Cleveland added. Through fundraising and donations, PPNC will restock the products regularly to make them as accessible as possible. 

Senior Class Secretary Shuban Gouru emphasized the importance of treating these dispensers well. “Change can only happen if the student body is respectful of the effort needed to supply these dispensers.” Gouru said.

However, the dispensers serve a greater purpose than just increasing period product accessibility. 

“Part of it comes from the fact that a lot of students are not educated on period products themselves. At the same time there’s this entire societal stigma on not talking about periods in public, and we need to get over that,” said Gouru. 

By educating the community, PPNC hopes to continue decreasing the stigma surrounding periods. They are beginning at Green Hope, and working with 15 other NC high schools to encourage state-wide implementation of period product dispensers in bathrooms.