In a quiet corner of Albuquerque, tucked inside a community hub where women gather for support, language classes and connection, a new kind of resource is making a powerful statement: Dignity starts with the basics.
On September 19, Free Flow NM and Umoja ABQ launched Albuquerque’s first Period Cupboard. This free cabinet, at Saint Timothy’s Lutheran Church (211 Jefferson St NE), is stocked with tampons, pads, liners and information about reusable supplies. Visitors can take up to a three-month supply.
It’s a small space with a big purpose.
“This is about reducing barriers and offering people a moment to exhale. So many people receive help and immediately worry about what will happen next month,” said Laurie Merrill, Executive Director and Founder of Free Flow NM.
The idea was born from a simple question: Where are women getting their period products?
Merrill began asking this in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, after realizing that many students could no longer access supplies from their school nurses’ offices. She started distributing period kits alongside school lunch pickups, which eventually launched into Free Flow NM.
Five years later, Free Flow NM now operates seven programs across New Mexico, including Period Pods, reusable product education and initiatives for special needs accessibility. Each solution is designed to meet people where they are.
When Umoja ABQ Executive Director Chantal Muhumure learned about Free Flow’s work, she reached out.
“I told Laurie we serve more than 500 women and their families,” said Muhumure. “Many of them come from refugee camps, where something as simple as a pad could be impossible to find. When she heard that number, she said, ‘We can do something.’”
The two organizations began working together, and the Period Cupboard became the result.
The Cupboard will be open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12:00 to 3:30 p.m., staffed by multilingual team members who will be able to speak to anyone upon arrival.
“We want women to feel like this is their home,” said Muhumure. “They don’t need to depend on anyone else to meet this need. They can come here and choose for themselves.”
One of the people helping staff the Cupboard is a former Umoja ABQ client, Kuol Nyaluk. Now employed by the organization, she’s become a passionate advocate for menstrual equity.
“I know what it feels like to lack these things,” said Nyaluk. “And I know what it feels like to finally have them. This is my chance to give back to my community.”
The Cupboard is about more than hygiene; it’s about empowerment. Umoja ABQ offers classes on everything from driving to English as a Second Language courses to doctor’s appointments. By removing the stress of purchasing period products families are freed up to focus on other important parts of their lives.
The Period Cupboard is open, but the work is ongoing. Both Free Flow NM and Umoja ABQ are seeking additional funding to expand services and ensure long-term sustainability. One-time grants helped launch this initiative, but the hope is to serve more families and places.
“We want this to grow. More choices, more access, more independence for every woman and girl who needs it. This is just the beginning,” said Muhumure.