A New York-based reproductive health nonprofit has quietly turned laundromats across Los Angeles and San Diego into ad hoc information hubs for medication abortion. While customers wait out their wash and dry cycles, they are now seeing bilingual posters and resource cards that walk through how abortion pills work, how to order them by mail, and what privacy and legal steps to think about along the way.
Mayday Health says it has launched the campaign in 50 laundromats across both metro areas, with a clear target in mind: working-class customers who, as organizers put it, "have a lot of downtime to scroll on their phones." Liv Raisner, Mayday’s founder and executive director, told CalóNews that the ads are printed in both English and Spanish to reach Spanish-speaking patrons. The posters steer readers toward vetted hotlines and information hubs rather than selling services or products themselves.
Mayday's approach
Mayday describes itself as an education-focused nonprofit that shares clinically reviewed information about medication abortion and related resources. The group’s website, according to Mayday Health, is built to protect privacy and "collects zero data that could identify a visitor." The organization does not sell or ship pills. Instead, it concentrates on plain-language guides, referral lists, and privacy tips for people trying to navigate care on their own terms.
How people order pills
Some people choose to order medication abortion pills in advance so they have them on hand, while others seek them only when a pregnancy occurs. Many online providers and community-based guides will mail pills to all 50 states and U.S. territories, according to Plan C. The new laundromat materials funnel readers to step-by-step guides, privacy recommendations, and hotlines that can answer clinical or legal questions.
Why it matters in California
California has some of the strongest legal protections for abortion in the country, yet access to accurate information is far from guaranteed. Crisis pregnancy centers, which often work to discourage people from having abortions, remain widespread. The California Women’s Law Center has tracked crisis pregnancy center activity statewide and found that these centers outnumber licensed clinics in California by roughly five to four, according to the California Women’s Law Center.
Polling from the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health finds that many Latinas identify as pro-choice, a community organizers say they are specifically trying to reach with Spanish-language outreach. Placing materials in neighborhood laundromats is meant to meet people where they already are and to compete with misleading counseling available elsewhere in the state.
Safety, cost and caveats
Raisner told CalóNews that abortion pills have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for about two decades. She said many providers charge between 90 and 150 dollars for a package of pills and described the medication as "an extremely safe medication" that she said leads to fewer hospitalizations than some common over-the-counter drugs.
Independent reporting and provider websites note that prices and protocols can vary significantly depending on the clinic, insurance coverage, and shipping options. Some telehealth providers and health outlets place typical medication abortion costs in a wider range. For background on typical price ranges and how the process works, see Healthline.
What organizers say next
Organizers told community outlets that the laundromat campaign is designed to put reliable, medically reviewed information in everyday spaces and to blunt the influence of centers that spread misinformation. Mayday highlights bilingual messaging as a core strategy to better serve Spanish-speaking neighborhoods, according to Mayday Health. The nonprofit’s materials direct people to hotlines and online privacy tips, aiming to reduce risk for anyone seeking care, including across state lines. The posters and cards are framed as educational tools, not commercial advertising.
The rollout is already underway in neighborhoods across both regions, and organizers say they plan to monitor response and expand to more locations if the effort proves effective. For state-by-state information on medication abortion and options for ordering pills by mail, see Plan C.
