Cora, a B Corp known for its natural and organic cotton tampons, pads, and other personal care, announced its partnership with United Way to donate premium feminine care products to women and girls nationwide. Cora’s giving efforts have been at the core of the company since its founding, and this new partnership will expand the domestic reach of Cora’s mission.

When Cora co-founder Molly Hayward was traveling in India and Kenya, she discovered how menstruation negatively affects girls and women who are unable to afford period care products. To compensate, they resort to using old rags, newspaper, animal dung and tree bark, all of which can cause infections and reproductive health problems. According to UNESCO, one out of every 10 menstruating youth are unable to attend school during their menstrual cycle due to a lack of access to menstrual products and resources, and for impoverished communities, schools have poor water and lack sanitation and hygiene infrastructure, making it difficult for youth to safely manage their menstrual cycle.

Period poverty affects almost 17 million menstruators in the U.S. During the midst of the pandemic and growing movements for social justice, Cora re-evaluated its domestic giving and determined the need to broaden its efforts in the U.S. Now, Cora is expanding its domestic give-back program by partnering with United Way to direct their period care product donations to communities within the U.S. The initial donation of five million products will be shared amongst recipient organizations including: United Way of Southeast LA in New Orleans, LA; Second Harvest of Silicon Valley in San Jose, CA; United Way for Southeastern Michigan in Detroit, MI; Metro United Way in Louisville, KY; Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern WI in Madison, WI; and Community Action Coalition for South Central Wisconsin in Madison, WI.

“At Cora, we’re on a mission to eliminate period poverty so all menstruators can experience their periods safely and with dignity, with full understanding of their body and how to care for it,” shares Hayward, co-founder and chief brand officer at Cora. “Through our partnership with United Way, we will be able to provide our products to more menstruators, especially to diverse individuals in the communities United Way serves.”

“United Way believes that a community is only as healthy as the people who call it home. We are grateful to Cora for helping provide personal care products to keep our communities healthy,” says Myeta Moon, director of Health, United Way Worldwide. “Along with our generous partners, United Way works to expand access to quality, affordable care, give parents the tools they need to raise healthy children, and get everyone more active and eating better.”

Since the company’s inception, Cora has integrated give-back into its DNA, and for each month’s supply of Cora products purchased, the brand provides a month’s supply of pads to a menstruator in need. Cora has given over 15 million period products to individuals in need around the world, including in Kenya, India, the U.S., and Europe.