Our Mission, History, and Future

The Pantry came about as a result of the unmet need for menstrual period products at The River Food Pantry. While volunteering in February of 2025, Carol repeatedly had to turn away requests for period products from the customers that day. The idea came to her to host a “feminine hygiene product drive” with friends, and it took off from there! In late March 2025, 12 women gathered to assemble packets of pads and tampons for delivery to The River. Carol also thought of adding an affirming card to the packets, along with a few pieces of chocolate (because everyone needs chocolate when they are on their period!). With the help of these women, the first period packet delivery was made to The River on April 2nd, and the period product pantry idea was born! Alongside The River Food Pantry, UW-Madison’s Open Seat Pantry, and Madison College were the first recipients of The Period Products Pantry's first Period Packets.

Seeing the demand for these products, Carol met with the Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) to learn more about how period products were distributed in schools through their Community Pantries. She reached out to The Village Diaper Bank to understand more about their business-model for diaper distribution. She found more information about the issue of period poverty through Public Health Madison and Dane County and the National Alliance for Period Supplies advocacy group; of which PPP is now an affiliated member. It is also in our sights to become a regional Chapter of Period.org in the near future. 

Carol also worked with UW-Madison Law School, having been selected by their entrepreneurial student organization to receive free services to launch this endeavor as a 501(c)3. Her mentor is with the UW-Madison School of Business “Idea to Product” small business development resources. As a result, The Period Products Pantry has also joined the Fitchburg Chamber of Commerce and the 100 Women Who Care of Madison.

The “home” for the Pantry is a place very near and dear to Carol, as her daughter, Dr. Theresa Piquette, is a partner with Physicians for Women in Fitchburg. They house all the supplies and backstock for period products. This space and support is instrumental in moving the Period Products Pantry forward to serve many more pantries, schools, and community centers. 

With the birth of her first granddaughter, and experiencing firsthand the period poverty, stigma, and unmet needs of Madison-area menstruators, Carol developed a passion for breaking through antiquated mindsets and rampant economic injustice surrounding periods. The Period Products Pantry, under her leadership, aims to create a better place for her granddaughter, women, and all menstruators, starting in Madison, with sights set on the world.