Project Altruism is dedicated to exploring, embracing, and advocating for improvements in women’s health. As a nonprofit organization we are passionate about working towards equity and accessibility for individuals who require such forms of health care, but often do not receive them. Most of all, Project Altruism strives to serve those who could use an act of kindness during difficult times.

My name is Siya Sharma and I started Project Altruism in 2020. Continuing on my work to address period poverty, we launched this project, and through generous support from friends, family, and our community, we raised funds to purchase, package, and distribute menstrual products for low-income and homeless members of our society. We have distributed these products at soup kitchens, homeless shelters, foster-care centers, and food pantries. This work has also allowed us to engage with civic bodies towards similar initiatives such as the county-ordered appropriation of funds to shelters, clinics, and organizations that maintain the same values as Project Altruism.

Experiences drawn from working with a variety of establishments and organizations have given me a first-hand understanding of the severity of menstrual poverty, and what we need to do to serve people who most direly require access to products. The social determinants of menstrual hygiene are numerous and often undercovered in legislation, revealing the need for us to collectively reconstruct how we prioritize this form of healthcare. Project Altruism aims to work with marginalized and underrepresented members of our society, providing them with healthcare access, representation, and compassion.