ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — St. Pete is now home to the latest period pantry, offering vital hygiene products for anyone who needs them. This one just happens to be located outside of an interesting location, the Chillum Mushroom and Hemp Dispensary.

Period products in an outdoor, pink pantry. For Bree Wallace, this is another step towards ending period poverty.

“Many people as we know live paycheck to paycheck. May people are unhoused, are living within poverty and they don’t have money for this and even $10 for a box of tampons, people don’t have. So things like this are very vital to our communities,” Wallace said.

That’s why she wanted to set up at this location. She already has 13 pantries throughout Tampa Bay and this newest one is just as important as all of the others. 

“I just think that all these products should be available, especially like a variety of them. Anywhere from tampons to pads, to people needing wipes. We have heat pads a lot of the time, Midol,” said Wallace.

Each pantry is stocked with products thanks to donations. She was able to give this pantry a home just outside the Chillum Mushroom and Hemp Dispensary downtown St. Pete after telling the owner, Carlos Hermida about her motivation.

“Bree is a very kind and caring person and supports the legalization of cannabis and went on our podcast to discuss it, and during the podcast she mentioned period pantry and all the great things she does with it,” said Hermida.

Hermida said it was a no brainier when he offered to place one of the boxes outside of his store.

“People have definitely noticed, and people have shown appreciation,” Hermida said. “Just while you guys were talking, someone stopped me and said this is so great they’re trying to get people to do this out in California where they’re from.”

Besides making sure people are taking what they need, serving as an example for others is top of her priority list.