‘Equity for people who have periods’
‘Period Promise’ campaign ensures access to personal hygiene products
Ensuring women and genderdiverse people who menstruate have access to hygiene products is the goal of United Way Niagara and Meridian Credit Union, as the “Period Promise” campaign kicks off in May.
The two organizations are raising money and collecting personal hygiene products to distribute to people, as needed across the region.
Working with partners such as Meridian Credit Union helps to effect change, said Chandra Hardeen, United Way director of community investment.
“The fact they (Meridian) recognize this as a substantial issue in our community is impressive and they’ve been a great partner with this for several years as they’re across Niagara, which helps our collection, distribution and awareness campaign,” she said.
Nearly one in five Canadians, according to United Way, dealt with period poverty in the past year. That figure is one in four when a household earns less than $40,000 a year.
Sometimes a decision is made whether to buy food or essential personal hygiene products.
“We have a very strong interest in equity for people who have periods, and we see period products as a basic need, like food, shelter and hygiene products,” said Hardeen.
She said distribution of the products happens in several ways, including by working with Niagara Region, which deals with many people who need them.
“We distribute to schools, too, because many people in school face this challenge, so we try to get the product out in as many channels as possible.”
A community stepping up to help with period poverty is Welland. Its city council passed a motion last December to make permanent a pilot program launched to help individuals experiencing period poverty.
Ward 3 Coun. Sharmila Setaram said the response has been good.
“(It’s been) overwhelmingly positive and from people of all ages, primarily women speaking to me about it, but very excited, and they’re proud we’ve taken on this program,” she said.
When the program launched, the City of Welland bought 4,000 tampons and 2,000 sanitary napkins for $2,376.
A report returned to council in November allotting an additional $2,500 for the program.
“It’s following through on what the province has done with the initiative. They’re getting it into the schools, and they have the study on how this impacts mental health of young women and gender-diverse individuals who menstruate,” Setaram said.
She said introducing Welland’s program was straightforward.
“We did it in a simple way, it doesn’t need to be complicated,” she said.
Period products are found in public area washrooms, including in city hall, the library and other public washroom locations throughout the city.
“We have a basket and filled it and there’s a letter laminated saying this is what it is and help yourself.”
Hardeen said the cost to supply an individual with the needed products, through the Period Promise campaign, amounts to less than what most people spend on coffee in a day.
“We calculated from our past experience that on average it costs about $3.55 to provide enough products to support one person for one month,” she said. “We estimate at retail the same products would be just under $11, so, we’re able to do it in a cost-effective manner.”
Hardeen said the savings come from purchasing in bulk allowing United Way to help more people.