Feminine hygiene products collected for Indigenous women
WATERLOO REGION — The project started as way to empower women on the heels of International Women’s Day back in March.
Const. Tanya Natyshak-Cole and Const. Cynthia Martin of Waterloo Regional Police spearheaded the campaign to collect feminine hygiene products for women in northern Indigenous communities who couldn’t afford them.
The officers, with help of their colleagues in dispatch and other officers and civilians, collected 10,000 individual items such as tampons and pads in two months.
“We had an overwhelming response,” said Natyshak-Cole.
The idea came from the Moon Time Sisters of Saskatchewan who collected similar products for Indigenous women in Northern Saskatchewan.
Martin, who is part Métis and part Mi’kmaq, contacted the Ontario chapter of the Moon Time Sisters and connected with the Kapuskasing Friendship Centre.
The centre will distribute the products to areas where they are needed. The shipment will assist 70 women with feminine hygiene products for an entire year.
“Some women were choosing between milk and bread or tampons,” Martin said. “The cost of these items is exorbitant. The women were going without and some were missing days of school and work.”
Martin posted the collection drive on Facebook as well as encouraging colleagues at police detachments. They received products as well as cash.
An anonymous donor gave $600 which was used to transport 23 large cases of product to northern Ontario.
“It’s a nice story of how we are supporting women in northern communities,” Martin said.