This holiday season, Procter & Gamble’s Always menstrual care brand is donating 1 million period pads to Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization. Through this donation, Always is helping make period care more accessible for girls and women who face barriers to consistent products, reaching them through Feeding America’s network of family and community organizations.

For many, this time of year can bring added stress as they work to meet everyday needs. Limited access to feminine hygiene care can exacerbate these challenges – affecting health, well-being and confidence. By providing these products, Always empowers women and girls to navigate life’s demands without worrying about scarcity, allowing them to focus on celebrating the season with family and friends.

“For more than 40 years, Always has stood beside generations of girls and women, championing their confidence and well-being,” says Balaka Niyazee, senior vice president of North America feminine care at Procter & Gamble.

“Yet too many still face barriers — including the one in five girls in the U.S. who have missed school or left early because they didn’t have access to period products, which remain among the most requested non-food items at food banks. Building on our long-standing commitment to support our communities, Always has delivered tens of millions of period products across the U.S. to help remove this barrier to education and confidence. This holiday donation through the Feeding America network will reach households across the country, including communities where access to these essentials is most limited, underscoring our continued dedication to supporting girls and women nationwide.”

Through its partnership with Feeding America, Always helps deliver feminine hygiene items to food banks and pantries nationwide — a critical network that supports everyone facing difficult trade-offs between food, hygiene and other necessities. This year’s donation supports the communities by expanding access to the menstrual care goods that people rely on year-round.

“At a time when many families are facing uncertainty and managing tough choices such as balancing food with other essentials, we are grateful for long-standing partners like Always who understand that prioritizing dignity and increasing access to resources is critical to supporting overall health and wellbeing,” says Lauren Biedron, senior vice president of Corporate Partnerships at Feeding America. “Through their generosity, we can help ensure neighbors in communities across the country have the resources they need to thrive this holiday season and beyond.”