FORCEs Feminist Pharmacy Expansion

Grant Type

Mini Grant

Project Status

Completed

Award Period

FY2026

Awarded Amount

$9,900

Amount Used

$9,899

Project Description

Feminists Organized to Resist Create and Empower (FORCE) is a student organization that has existed since the 1990’s as an intersectional feminist organization dedicated to building a community that educates, advocates for, and empowers women, femme, trans, and nonbinary students. The FORCE Feminist Pharmacy Expansion expands upon the previously funded FORCE Feminist Pharmacy to provide women, femme, trans, and nonbinary students with sustainable and gender affirming period products. Located in the Women and Gender Resource Center (WGRC), the Feminist Pharmacy provides free products for the University of Arizona community.

This expansion will restock the pharmacy and Campus Pantry with reusable and sustainable period products and with intern-created educational materials. The project will also add a bulk section where community members can bring their own reusable containers to receive body wash, shampoo, and conditioner. Throughout the semester, tabling events will be held to provide peer-to-peer educational opportunities while handing out hygienic products.

Project Outcomes

With support from the Campus Sustainability Fund, the FORCE team has stocked the Feminist pharmacy with sustainable menstrual health products as well as shampoo, body wash, and conditioner, totaling 2,027 sustainability-minded hygiene products distributed.

The menstrual health products selected include reusable menstrual cups from The August Brand, reusable menstrual discs from Flex Company, and period underwear including adaptive options from The Period Company.

The team distributed products and intern-developed pamphlets at over ten outreach and educational events, including the Campus Pantry, EveryBODY Fair led by Campus Health, Admitted Students Day, the Feminist Symposium, and Tucson Zinefest, effectively building relationships with other organizations across campus and increasing visibility of FORCE’s reusable, reliable, and sustainable offerings. Widening their reach beyond campus, FORCE distributed sustainable menstrual cups and discs at a community event in collaboration with the museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) as well as to local refugee support group, Owls & Panthers.

The team plans on continuing to provide these resources on campus to make these basic need offerings available and sustainable for U of A students.