Period Promise Northumberland Encourages Community to Donate Menstrual Hygiene Products

Pete Fisher
2 years ago
• Categories: Local, Upcoming Events

Period Promise Northumberland is excited to announce the third annual Community-Wide Collection Campaign in celebration of Menstrual Hygiene Day.

Starting May 1 and running until May 31, 2023, Northumberland County residents are encouraged to donate menstrual hygiene products, make a financial donation, or organize their own Period Promise collection campaign to help individuals, families, and non-profit organizations who struggle to afford these products each month. Donations can be dropped off at one of their partner locations across Northumberland County, including:

• Cobourg: Cobourg Public Library, The Squishy Goose, The Poplars Practitioners, David’s No Frills, Nourish Boutique Spa, Northumberland United Way
• Port Hope: Salvation Army, Port Hope and District Chamber of Commerce
• Brighton: RE/MAX Quinte Ltd. Brighton Office
• Colborne: Lofty Butter Company

“Supporting United Way’s Period Promise campaign is an easy way to help build healthy communities and improve the wellbeing of many people in Northumberland County,” says Maggie Darling, Acting Executive Director, Northumberland United Way. “Any donation, big or small, will make a huge difference to someone in need.”

How can you get involved?

• Donate product at one of the drop-off locations
• Make a financial donation. You can donate online at www.mynuw.org
• Run a collection campaign. Contact Chelsea at crankin@nuw.unitedway.ca
• Are you a business owner? Sign our agreement and commit to offering products for free in your washrooms
• Celebrate Menstrual Hygiene Day on Sunday, May 28, 2023
• Pledge your support
• Continue the conversation around period poverty

Period Promise, a program of Northumberland United Way supported by Thrive Northumberland, aims to address the issue of period poverty in the community while advocating for social change. Since the programs launch in 2020, Period Promise Northumberland has distributed over 30,000 menstrual hygiene products to individuals, families, and non-profits locally.

Last year, Period Promise Northumberland asked community members to anonymously share how period poverty impacts their lives in order to get a better understand of menstruation and equitable access to menstrual products in Northumberland County. The data was collected to form a report on period poverty and equitable access. The survey results are based on 79 Northumberland County residents aged 12-65+. Some of the key findings, include:

• 48% of participants said they have experienced an inability to access menstrual products
• 46.8% of participants said they have struggled to afford menstrual products
• 64% of participants said they have had to miss work, school, or other opportunities due to their period

To access the full report, please visit https://www.mynuw.org/menstruation-in-the-community-survey/. For additional information, please contact Chelsea at crankin@nuw.unitedway.ca. To learn more about Menstrual Hygiene Day, visit https://menstrualhygieneday.org/.