Pads, tampons, and breast pumps for all | Jill Scott comes home to Philly

Pads, tampons, and breast pumps for all | Jill Scott comes home to Philly

From Bridging Philly by Audacy

April 18, 2026 · 30 min

About this episode

The episode discusses period poverty and features Shelley Aragoncillo's initiative in Philadelphia, along with a tribute to Jill Scott's return to her hometown.

Millions of menstruating people worldwide experience period poverty and have trouble accessing the products they need. Many people skip work or school during their cycles, or have to choose between paying for pads or food. It’s a large-scale problem, but one woman is trying to help the Philadelphia community on the ground. Shelley Aragoncillo created sheds full of free menstrual and postpartum products in several locations around Philly. She calls her grassroots effort " Grab N’ Flow ". Racquel Williams visits one of the sheds to find out how serious this need is and how Shelley is drawing on mutual aid to help. Then, in celebration of Jill Scott’s new album “To Whom This May Concern”, Shara Dae Howard looks back on the time Jilly from Philly returned to her hometown and was honored with a mural at her alma mater, Girls High.

People in this episode

Guest: Racquel Williams

Topics covered

  • period poverty
  • menstrual products
  • postpartum products
  • mutual aid
  • community support
  • Jill Scott
  • local initiatives

Keywords

  • period poverty
  • menstrual products
  • Philadelphia
  • Jill Scott
  • community support
  • Grab N’ Flow
  • mutual aid

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Grab N’ Flow

Books & works: To Whom This May Concern

Places: Philadelphia, Philly, Girls High

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