Improving access to period supplies and understanding of period poverty through synchronized distribution and data collection - over the 12-month grant period, this project aims to synchronize…

The Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families awarded Mitzvah Circle Foundation $500,000 on August 31, 2026, under the Social Services Research and Demonstration program (CFDA 93.647) to improve access to period supplies and deepen understanding of period poverty through synchronized distribution and data collection.

Over the 12-month performance period ending August 30, 2027, Mitzvah Circle will synchronize menstrual hygiene product distribution with programmatic research to establish a comprehensive, data-driven understanding of community needs regarding period poverty, inform operational improvements to the foundation's service models, and improve the mental and physical health of participating recipients. The evaluation framework will collect both quantitative and qualitative data through surveys and partner agency evaluations. By project completion, Mitzvah Circle will produce annual summary data and synthesized reports to identify and bridge period supply distribution and resource gaps.

Work is performed in Pennsylvania.

Improving access to period supplies and understanding of period poverty through synchronized distribution and data collection - over the 12-month grant period, this project aims to synchronize menstrual hygiene product distribution with programmatic research to deepen the community's understanding of period poverty and mitigate its short- and long-term consequences. The three primary anticipated outcomes are: outcome 1: establish a comprehensive, data-driven understanding of community needs regarding period poverty. Outcome 2: inform operational improvements to mitzvah circle's current service models to better support recipients. Outcome 3: improve the overall mental and physical health of participating recipients. To gather data and achieve the project's outcomes, mitzvah circle staff will place quick the evaluation framework will leverage both quantitative and qualitative data collected through surveys and affiliate and partner agency evaluation. At the end of the project, mitzvah circle will have annual summary data as well as synthesized data and reports to help identify and bridge period supply distribution and resource gaps.