The annual Period Promise campaign officially wrapped up on May 28th with a drive-thru drop off event at the Seaway Mall in Welland. The campaign aims to raise awareness of period poverty in Niagara and be part of the solution. The initiative is a product collection drive as well as education, awareness of equity issues and advocating for change.
In 2021, despite the challenges posed by physical distancing and stay-at-home orders, we were able to collect and distribute 10,556 products across Niagara to those who need them the most – the equivalent of approximately 380,016 individual products.
“Thank you so very much for the incredible donation. My family includes four teenage girls and myself, and my paycheck does not go far enough. This gift is unbelievable and will help us through the year without ever worrying about where to get products. Thank you all so much. You have blessed my family with love. I am overwhelmed.” – Bianca
This is more than DOUBLE the number of packages that were collected last year! We would first like to thank all our sponsors this year who were either able to publicize the campaign, host drop-off bins, or host us for collection drop-offs.
- Avondale Food Stores
- Boggio’s Family of Pharmacies
- Giant FM and Country 89
- Metro Inc.
- Niagara Falls Farmers Market
- Niagara Falls Illumination Board
- Seaway Mall
- Simpson’s Pharmasave
- Sobeys
- St. Catharines Farmers Market
- Zehrs
We would also like to thank everyone who attended or took part in our first Community Day of Caring. We have collected a huge amount of period product kits and we hope everyone was able to learn a bit more about period poverty through the event – Thank you Rachel Gillmore for your fabulous and informative presentation!
Lastly, we want to thank every person, workplace, organization, school, and club in Niagara who were able to donate and spread our message to end period poverty.
In the next few weeks, all your donations will be distributed to local agencies, food banks, and service providers across the region. Beneficiaries of this years’ drive are:
- Community Care of St. Catharines & Thorold (Thorold Branch)
- Community Care of St. Catharines & Thorold
- Community Care of West Niagara
- Gateway Residential & Community Support Services
- GBF Community Services
- Holy Trinity Hygiene & Food Pantry
- Niagara Chapter, Native Women Inc.
- Niagara Falls Community Health Centre
- Open Arms Mission
- Positive Living Niagara
- Project SHARE
- RAFT (Niagara Resource Service for Youth)
- The Hope Centre
- The Salvation Army Fort Erie
- West Lincoln Community Care
- Westview Centre4Women
- YWCA Niagara Region
In the meantime, we would like to continue to encourage business and facility owners to sign the Period Promise Policy committing to provide free menstrual hygiene products to anyone accessing their facilities.
We still have a long way to go, but we are more than thrilled with the success of this campaign. Thank you Niagara!