Pinellas County’s first Period Pantry has arrived in the Grand Central District

In a groundbreaking collaboration, Chillum Mushroom and Hemp Dispensary has partnered with the nonprofit Tampa Period Pantry to install a “Period Pantry” outside its Downtown St. Petersburg location in the Grand Central District (1916 Central Ave). This initiative, the first-ever Period Pantry in Pinellas County, is “a significant step in combating period poverty and promoting menstrual health equity,” writes the Chillum team in a press release.

Chillum Mushroom and Hemp Dispensary opened its St. Pete location over a year ago. It’s regarded as a trusted source for quality hemp products and legal psychedelic mushrooms—it currently has a perfect 5-star rating on Google with 416 reviews.

The Period Pantry is a vital resource for women across the region

Tampa Period Pantry, founded by Bree Wallace, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing period poverty—defined as the lack of access to menstrual products, sanitation facilities, and menstrual health education. The organization achieves this mission by placing free-standing cabinets stocked with essential period products throughout the Tampa Bay area.

The new Period Pantry outside Chillum Mushroom and Hemp Dispensary provides free access to menstrual products, encouraging sanitation and hygiene among individuals who may otherwise struggle to afford these necessities.

This is just the beginning for a bigger Tampa Bay expansion

“I’m so excited for Tampa Period Pantry to have our first public outdoor pantry in St. Pete!” said Bree Wallace, founder of Tampa Period Pantry. “This is just the beginning of TPP expanding throughout all of Tampa Bay, especially in areas where there is a large unhoused population or lower income level. Many people face the barrier of not having funds for hygiene products, and period poverty is often not talked about, especially with the stigma around periods. Thank you to Chillum and Carlos for being a host site in St. Pete and to the community for helping to keep the pantries stocked.”

Carlos Hermida, owner and founder of Chillum Mushroom and Hemp Dispensary, also shared his enthusiasm for the initiative. “We are very excited to host St. Pete’s first Period Pantry. It is important to us at Chillum not only to be a quality hemp and shroom dispensary but also to be a part of our community and help build up the members of that community. By hosting a Period Pantry, we hope to do our part to help the women of St. Petersburg!”