Student-Led Period Product Drive Halted at Eastside High, Sparking an Equity Push
In a growing national movement to address menstrual equity, students at Eastside High School recently found themselves fighting for the right to a basic necessity in their own bathrooms. What started as a successful, student-run initiative to provide free period products has turned into a contentious debate after school district officials abruptly halted the popular program.
For more than a year, a dedicated group of Eastside students, supported by community grants and their own fundraising, worked to combat what advocates call “period poverty” on campus. The student-led program, which launched in January 2024, ensured that free pads and tampons were stocked in school restrooms, quietly removing a significant barrier for menstruating students.
“The products were being used and replenished weekly,” said student Graceland Duenas, highlighting the clear need the program was fulfilling. Another student, Senior Sanabu Wajid, emphasized that the initiative was designed to address student needs and remove an obstacle to their education.
The success of the program underscores a national reality: the high cost of menstrual products creates a real hurdle for many young people. Research has shown that as many as one in four students in the United States struggle to afford pads or tampons. This lack of access often has a direct impact on academics, with over 80% of students reporting that they or someone they know has missed class time due to being without essential period products.
However, the Eastside High initiative hit an unexpected roadblock. The district moved to halt the free product boxes without providing a clear, direct explanation to the students who had organized and maintained the effort. The organizers quickly pushed back, citing the spirit, and even the letter, of recent state law. Florida statutes, including House Bill 389, encourage school districts to provide free menstrual products and permit them to be placed in restrooms.
The student organizers took their case directly to the Alachua County School Board, requesting an explanation for the suspension and immediate reinstatement of the boxes. Their message was simple: access to these essential items is a matter of dignity, equity, and the ability to focus on learning.
The fight at Eastside High is a local reflection of a broader push for “menstrual equity” sweeping across the country. States like New Jersey and Pennsylvania, as well as major school districts like Dallas ISD, have already implemented policies to provide free menstrual products in school bathrooms, recognizing them as a necessity, just like toilet paper or soap.
For the Eastside students, this isn’t about politics or profit; it is about ensuring a fundamental right for their peers. The district is now working to clarify the situation and determine next steps, but the powerful message from the students remains. By continuing to advocate for their program, they are demonstrating how student organizing can directly impact school policy, ensuring that no student has to miss class because they cannot afford or access a pad or tampon. The goal, as the students clearly articulated, is to create a more supportive and equitable environment for all.