Flow Freedom: Addressing Menstrual Equity & Period Management

At Gentle Gratitude, we believe that no student should have to miss school or feel uncomfortable due to a lack of access to menstrual products. That’s why we launched the Flow Freedom Project!

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Providing comfort, dignity, and care — one cycle at a time.

About

The Flow Freedom Project was established Spring of 2024 to fight period poverty and to empower young students by ensuring they have access to essential menstrual care resources. Gentle Gratitude started Flow Freedom by initially establishing a Menstrual Hygiene Hub at Rhodes Elementary in North Philadelphia, where students can receive free menstrual products and learn about reproductive health in a supportive, stigma-free environment. Flow Freedom has since expanded to several schools in Philadelphia to promote Menstrual Equity.

The goal is to help students manage their periods confidently, stay engaged in school, and reduce the barriers that menstruation can create for academic success.

Expanding the Impact

Our vision was first set out to establish a Flow Freedom Hub in every school across Philadelphia (starting with Rhodes Elementary) that needs assistance with menstrual products, ensuring that no student has to face barriers to menstrual care or hygiene insecurity. While we once described this as addressing period poverty, we now embrace the language of menstrual equity—because this work is not just about overcoming a lack of resources, but about creating fairness, dignity, and equal access to menstrual health for every student.

With the great amount of support we have received and the need growing, we have expanded our reach to 22 additional schools in Philadelphia, Camden, and Claymont: John Bartram High School, Strawberry Mansion High School, Longstreth Elementary School, Harambee Institute of Science and Technology, Excel Middle Years Academy, Bluford Elementary, Philadelphia Learning Academy West, Crossroads Academy, High School for Girls, School of the Future, Furness High School, The Workshop School, EM Stanton Elementary, Parkway Center City Middle College, Overbook Elementary, Taggart Elementary, Waring Elementary, Cook-Wissahickon Elementary, Mayfair School, Urban Promise Academy, Claymont Elementary, Penn Alexander, and Lamberton Elementary.

Flow Freedom received a few requests from students in Delaware, New Jersey, Ohio, and Texas.

Menstrual hygiene is not just a health necessity—it’s a fundamental issue of dignity, equality, and access. Through our growing impact, we have distributed over 100,000 feminine hygiene products, including disposable pads, tampons, reusable pads, incontinence underwear, menstrual cups and period kits. Additionally, we’ve provided essential hygiene products such as deodorant, underwear, wipes, toothpaste, tooth brushes, and eczema body wash ensuring students have the resources they need to feel confident and cared for.

Key Features of the Project

  • Free Menstrual Products for the Year: Students at our supported schools have access to pads, wipes, and emergency kits at no cost, available whenever they need them for the entire school year.
  • Free Hygiene Products for Students: Girls and boys at select schools also has access to free deodorant.
  • Period Products: Request a supply of feminine products at home here. (Please note, we have received 433 requests between November 10th, 2025 and November 20th, 2025; therefore, requests will likely take up to 1 month to process)
  • Reproductive Health Education: In partnership with Penn Reproductive Justice, students receive informative, age-appropriate lessons about the menstrual cycle, hygiene practices, and self-care. Download our Menstrual Cycle educational flyer.

Updates!

598 students has received a 3 month supply of free Feminine Products as of December 19, 2025!

Join the Movement

During the 2025-2026 School Year, our goal is to equip 500 students with a  supply of feminine hygiene products for at-home use. Additionally, we aim to provide students with the option to request replenishments every three months, ensuring consistent access to essential products throughout the year and helping young girls manage their periods with dignity.

Help us continue to make a difference! Your support allows us to continue expanding the Flow Freedom Project to more schools and students in need. Together, we can ensure that all students have access to the resources they need to thrive. We accept in-kind and monetary donations. If you’re an educator or health care professional and would like to join our workshops, please send us an email!

Products can be purchased directly via our Amazon Wishlist. To make an in-kind donation, please email: contact.gentlegratitude@gmail.com.

Flow Freedom Supporters