Governor Stein Proclaims Menstrual Products Access Awareness Week

Menstrual Products Access Awareness Week

2026

By The Governor Of The State Of North Carolina

A Proclamation

Whereas, period supplies are a necessary product for millions of women and girls across the country; and 

Whereas, national surveys and research studies report that one in four women struggle to secure period supplies to meet their monthly needs due to a lack of income; and 

Whereas, this lack of period supplies, known as period poverty, can adversely affect women’s health and well-being; and

Whereas, this lack of access exacerbates the vicious cycle of poverty by forcing one in five women to withdraw from daily life, losing pay or missing educational opportunities because of menstruation; and 

Whereas, the people of North Carolina recognize that this is a public health issue, and addressing it can lead to economic opportunity for North Carolina’s people and surrounding communities and improved health for women and girls, thus ensuring all people have access to the basic necessities required to thrive and reach their full potential; and

Whereas, North Carolina is proud to be home to trusted community-based organizations, including Period Power, a program of the Diaper Bank of North Carolina, that recognizes the importance of menstrual products in ensuring health and providing economic stability, and distributes period products through various channels;

Now, Therefore, I, Josh Stein, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim May 11 – 17, 2026, as “Menstrual Products Access Awareness Week” in North Carolina and commend its observance to all residents.

In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Great Seal of the State of North Carolina at the Capitol in Raleigh this fifth day of May in the year of our Lord two thousand and twenty-sixth and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fiftieth.