This buy-one, give-one period product company aims to make every girl’s period easier
People helping people. Period
Aunt Flow is the first buy-one, give-one US organization that aims to give every girl access to their basic needs on their period.
A girl’s period will cost her an average of $18,171 over her lifetime. More than 16 million US women lived in
poverty last year and in most states products such as pads, tampons and alternative period products are taxed and aren’t covered by food stamps or the WIC program.
Founded by former Ohio State student Claire Coder, Aunt Flow aims to give women in need access to proper period products.
“Often, women, shelters and families conclude that food takes precedence over basic menstrual hygiene products,” says Claire.
Every girl knows the horrible feeling of not having a tampon or pad, which is why Claire “wanted to create a sustainable solution for this problem.”
So, she started Aunt Flow–the first buy-one, give-one period product company which delivers right to your doorstep.
How it works
Aunt Flow works with five beneficiary organizations across the US to provide products to women who need them. Once you choose your subscription box you can either choose where your “give-one” box will go to, or donate to the “Flow Fund” if you don’t have a particular preference.
For every box delivered, Aunt Flow will donate the same box of high quality tampons and pads to the organization you choose.
Back in February, Claire dropped out of college when she realized college wasn’t for her. Now she makes her living talking about periods – at only 19 years old.
“Starting a company is hard. Starting a company that only half the population can truly relate
to is even harder. Starting a company surrounding something that no one wants to talk about is
fucking difficult.”
Claire realizes period products aren’t the solution to poverty, but said we “need to start somewhere.”
Monthly supplies are $13
One whole month worth of 100 percent cotton products will cost you a little more than a bowl from Chipotle with chips and guac. For $13 you can create a customizable box of 18 tampons or pads, whichever you prefer to help your flow. Anyone can create their box, so if your boyfriend is looking to help out your “girl issues,” this is how.
You can pre-order your first box now
Aunt Flow officially launched in October and already has subscribers across the country. You can pre-order your subscription now and your first box will arrive in December. Subscriber Alexa Hanna told babe she loves how Aunt Flow is making periods accessible and sustainable.
“Aunt Flow isn’t just a tampon subscription company–it’s a company that would love to erase the need for its own existence. And that is how you make an impact- with insanely lofty goals and people who are crazy enough to go after them.” she said.
Because we all get periods, but we don’t all have access to the proper menstrual hygiene products. It’s time that changes.
Girls helping girls. Period.
Photos courtesy of Aunt Flow.