ROTHERHAM, ENGLAND - MAY 31, 2018: A local church food bank (part of Trussell Trust) dealing with period poverty - a selection of the sanitary products that have been donated in boxes for distribution
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Supervisors in one of California's largest counties approved a plan to stock free menstrual products in all of the facilities it operates.

Public access and employee restrooms of all genders in Santa Clara County will be stocked with feminine hygiene products, reports KRON 4.

County Supervisor Cindy Chavez said in a press releases that menstrual products as a necessity, just like soap and toilet paper. She said there are health consequences to not making these products available for free, and that the shame surrounding menstruating must stop.

In addition to stocking county facilities, the board has also voted to support legislation that would provide free menstrual products in public schools, community colleges, state and local municipal buildings and state colleges.

This isn't the first time that the county has taking a stand against "period poverty." In December 2020, its supervisors approved spending $1 million to provide period products to poorer and disadvantaged communities during the pandemic. At the time, it was estimated than more than 63,000 people in the county couldn't afford period products.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Santa Clara County had more than 1.9 million people in 2019, more than half of which live in San Jose.