The Locker

Synclaire Warren created The Locker to illuminate the realities of Period Poverty and heal those who have been affected by it. According to a Forbes 2022 study, 2 in 5 people who menstruate experience period poverty. Throughout my life, I have dealt with menstrual shame that hindered me from properly caring for myself during times of menstruation. This would look like bleeding through my pants at school, using toilet paper or paper towels instead of actual period products, and laying on hot cement when my period cramps were too intense. This is the reality of so many people who menstruate. Some people do not even have access to period products or reproductive education at all. Menstrual products are right even though it has been deemed a privilege as 22 states in the US still have the tampon Tax. The Tampon Tax is slang for a sales tax that is imposed on menstrual hygiene products. In these states, menstrual products are labeled as luxury items instead of medical supplies. The Locker works to combat period poverty in the US by acting similarly to a food pantry. It is a light blue locker that will provide a space where all people can access adequate and free menstrual products, including but not limited to; tampons, pads, menstrual cups, and hygiene wipes. The Locker will also have guidebooks that will give instructions on how to use all of the products as I, myself did not know how to insert a tampon properly until I was 15. To further dismantle menstrual shame meaning the unfortunate embarrassment people feel when buying or taking out menstrual products in public, there will be one transactional act that I would like anyone who takes a product from The Locker to perform. This act will be writing a positive affirmation and or personal story about their own journey with menstruation. I believe we heal in relation to one another and The Locker will work to heal generations of menstrual trauma. 

All donations raised will be used to gather supplies and materials for The Locker.