Little Free Libraries pop up all around the region; so do Little Free Food Pantries. But a new type of pantry in a Northern Virginia town is helping to fill a need for women and girls.
The Free Period Pantry, on Maple Avenue in Vienna, has been providing free tampons and pads to those in need since September, and it’s the creation of three James Madison High School students.
Ariyanna Ghala, Isabel Buescher and Ramsey Warner, all 14 and who are also Girl Scouts with Troop 6833 USA Nation’s Capital, worked on the project for almost a year for the Silver Award — the organization’s highest award, given for projects intended to have a lasting impact on the community.
The pantry works much like the Little Free Food Pantry which sits right next to it on the Emmaus United Church of Christ property in Vienna. Products such as pads and tampons are donated and then put in the pantry for those who are in need.