When most teenagers are focused on school and social life, Miri Ahuja, a freshman at Evergreen Valley High School, has been busy quietly changing her community — one pad at a time.
Through her initiative, Period Positive Drive, the San Jose teenager collected and donated 4,278 period products to HomeFirst, a local organization serving people experiencing homelessness in Santa Clara County. The March drive featured a carefully curated inventory — from everyday pads and panty liners to specialized overnight wear — spanning brands including Always, Kotex, Tampax, and Rael Organic.
But for Miri, the drive was never just about the numbers; it was about changing conversations.
“Everybody eventually needs a pad, and they might not be able to have the means to access, or afford the education that comes along with it,” she said. “Donating ensures that everybody is aware and has access.”
Miri said she hopes her Period Positive Drive will inspire others to give — and more importantly, to talk openly about something that affects half the population. Her message extends beyond women and girls. Miri is passionate about bringing men and boys into the conversation. “When you see your sisters, mothers, girlfriends all going through the same thing, it can seem not important,” she said about understanding menstruation. “But it makes you more sensitive, more aware.”
Miri’s donation made a impression on the organization that received it. “We just don’t see much of this every day, especially for feminine hygiene products,” said a representative from HomeFirst.
According to the drive’s March 2026 Impact Report, the collection included 2,622 pads (61.3%), 1,240 panty liners (29%), 203 liners and specialized items including overnight wear, hygiene wipes and protective underwear — ensuring comprehensive care and dignity for every recipient.
HomeFirst serves hundreds of unhoused individuals across Santa Clara County, where menstrual products remain among the most requested and least donated items at shelters nationwide.