LOS ANGELES — The latest consumer good hit by supply chain issues is tampons, and it’s making it hard for twin sisters Apryle and Adria Brodie, who are co-founders of the nonprofit D.R.E.W. Projects, to donate feminine hygiene kits to females experiencing homelessness.

“I know initially we said wanted to dedicate 50 feminine hygiene kits, but I feel more comfortable dedicating 25 right now, and maybe in a couple of weeks the inventory will go up," Adria said.


What You Need To Know

  • A tampon shortage is impacting donations to homeless outreach organizations

  • Problems including supply chain issues, a labor shortage and strained raw materials are impacting the shortages

  • The nationwide tampon shortage is affecting local stores

  • D.R.E.W. Projects builds feminine hygiene kits and its mission is to end period poverty 

D.R.E.W. Projects Women’s Health Initiative's goal is to end period poverty.

One way they try to do this is by building feminine hygiene kits that consist of period products, then donate them to nonprofits serving the homeless. 

Back in May, inventory at store shelves were abundant, but this past month, Apryle says the tampon shortage has drastically impacted their efforts. 

“We’ve never had to have this discussion and conversation about maybe we have to reduce what we can donate today, and maybe we have to sparse it out," Apryle said.

A perfect storm of supply chain issues, inflation, labor shortages and other factors are playing into the lack of tampons. So instead of 50 kits, Apryle and Adria drop off 25 to Hope of The Valley.

Their outreach team takes the kits to their tiny home cabin community in Reseda, that consists of 52 units of interim housing.

Hope of the Valley Senior Program Director Laura Harwood was homeless for 22 years and knows how vital these donations are. 

“You’re on the street and you have no money, or you’re just out here without anything and then we get our period. Imagine not having a pad or tampon in order to take care of that," Harwood said. 

And that’s why Adria says D.R.E.W. Projects is committed to their mission.

 “This is for women and girls experiencing homelessness,” Adria said. “We want to make sure that we’re working together to end period poverty so they have access to these feminine hygiene kit products. That’s so important.”