It’s banned book week and my wife is in the midst of a campaign to buy period products for the local food shelf. So it struck me as a good time to read Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume.

This book was published 55 years ago, before I was born, and it’s been banned for its frank discussion of menstruation (“menstroo-ation,” which ironically is how I pronounce it in my head to make sure I spell it right) and religion. Thankfully, it’s not one of the top books banned these days, but it’s still jaw-dropping that people are that scared of periods.

It’s 2025. Can we stop being uptight about tampons?

And stop banning books?

So it’s a good time to read a banned book.

And help fight period poverty.

Pad Drive to Restock the Food Shelf

Abby and her fellow “Bleed Queens” are raising tons of money for pads, tampons, and other period products for our local food shelf, Neighbors, Inc. You can donate via Venmo to organizers Katie Dohman or Abby Hendricks. They’ll buy product in bulk at Costco and donate it to Neighbors, Inc.

They’ve done it before. To the tune of $15,000 in 2023. So when Neighbors, Inc. was running dangerously low, they asked Abby and Katie if they could work their magic.

Please consider a donation to support the cause. Or find a food shelf in your neighborhood and donate pads and tampons.

(Tampon Squirrel created by Carolyn Swiszcz in 2023.)