Bowling Green State University (BGSU) students face numerous financial pressures, but for a critical portion of the population, one necessity creates an acute ethical and economic dilemma: period products. 

Through the Undergraduate Student Government (USG) Student Affairs Committee, student Dakota Beach has initiated a campus-wide donation drive. The effort is less about immediate charity and more about introducing the university to a critical question of institutional equity. 

“If BGSU is capable of giving out condoms to all of the resident halls then why should this be any different,” Beach stated. 

Diagnosed with endometriosis in 2023, Beach knows firsthand the challenges of managing menstrual health while balancing the demands of college life. 

“The main reason I’m doing this is because us as college students go through so many different things and financially, some students might not be able to afford the products,” Beach explained. 

Their drive, running through the end of November, accepts supplies such as unopened pads, tampons and liners at donation boxes across campus and at local businesses. Monetary donations are also accepted via QR code, with funds used to purchase additional supplies. 

For many students, the lack of free access translates directly into period poverty—a financial crisis fueled by the cost of supplies. 

Beach describes it as “not a one size fits all” problem. Some students cannot afford products at all, while others stretch limited supplies longer than recommended, risking infection. 

National data underscores the scale: according to PERIOD, nearly 1 in 4 students struggle to afford menstrual products, and 84% of students report missing class or knowing someone who missed class due to lack of access to menstrual products. 

The drive has drawn strong support both on and off campus, with drop-off locations in all residence halls and throughout the community: 

“Honestly, the off-campus response has been incredible,” Beach said. “I had parents reaching out in Facebook groups asking how they could help. Over Family Weekend a few people met with me and gave bags of products they had lying around.” 

Beach emphasizes that the donation effort is only the first step. Once collected, products will be counted and distributed by USG volunteers, with priority given to residence halls. 

They are already in conversation with administrators about a long-term solution: integrating menstrual products into campus services, just as condoms are. 

“The drive is just the first step to show that there is an interest in having products available and to prove that there is an actual need for them,” Beach said. 

BGSU has taken steps to address student basic needs. The Falcon Food Pantry provides one free bag of groceries and hygiene items per week to any student, faculty, or staff member with a valid ID. The Dean of Students’ Emergency Assistance Programs offer meal cards, grocery bags, clothing vouchers, and menstrual products—though only “based on availability.” 

Beach’s initiative highlights the gap: while food insecurity has been institutionalized through programs like Falcon Care and the pantry, menstrual equity remains inconsistent. 

Beach is not the first to raise this issue. In 2021, Honors student Courtney Foerg organized a menstrual product drive, raising $1,220 and collecting nearly 9,700 products. Her project documented the steps for future drives and partnered with FORGE, a student organization on campus focused on gender equity. 

In 2022, BG Falcon Media published an opinion piece by Chloe S. Kozal, arguing that BGSU should provide free menstrual products in public bathrooms. Kozal cited national data showing 25% of students struggle to access products and noted that universities could achieve equity for only $5–$7 per student per year. 

Together, these efforts show a consistent call from students: menstrual products should be treated as basic necessities, no different than toilet paper or paper towels.  

For Beach, the drive is about more than supplies. It’s about belonging. 

“I’m mainly hoping to show that this is something that the students want at BGSU and that it could greatly improve the student experience,” they said. “Having a school that provides you with products like this shows that they care and can help students feel like they belong.” 

Beach and USG are accepting donations at any of the in-person drop-off boxes listed above or through monetary contributions via QR code and their GoFundMe.