Sask. Tampon Tuesday campaign aims to battle period poverty
The United Way of Saskatoon is kicking off its annual Tampon Tuesday campaign on this International Women’s Day, aiming to help more people access vital supplies while creating a conversation about a subject once considered taboo.
“It’s something that we don’t often think about, we often don’t talk about it,” United Way of Saskatoon CEO Sheri Benson told CTV News.
The donation bin at the United Way office sat empty on Tuesday morning, but over the next couple weeks it will be filled with essential menstrual supplies donated by the community and then distributed to the community.
“When someone doesn’t have access to period products they make some choices and one of those choices is that young people choose to not go to school,” Benson said.
The Tampon Tuesday program started 5 years ago with the aim to start the conversation about getting much-needed menstrual supplies to people who can’t access them.
Diane Lovegrove works the front lines at the Community Service Village in the YWCA building and recently saw the need firsthand when a woman came in to use the restroom and didn’t have period supplies.
“I didn’t have anything to give her, so I was a little worried on what to do so I called Sheri since the United Way Office is right beside my office and she brought me a little bag,” said Lovegrove, director of Community Service Village.
Diane Lovegrove works the front lines at the Community Service Village in the YWCA building. (Carla Shynkaruk / CTV News)
The group used International Women’s Day to launch the program and bring the issue to the forefront. It started in 2017 and the hope is that it continues adding to the number of people getting help.
“We’ve raised well over $100,000 and circulated to folks who needed them, period products in excess of 20,000,” Benson said.
Monetary donations are used to purchase supplies and give them to organizations like schools or the Friendship Inn to distribute.
“We don’t want people to miss out on life because they don’t have access to period products, because that’s part of life for many of us.”
Donations can be made at select businesses and Shoppers Drug Mart locations across Canada.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Harvey Weinstein hospitalized after return to New York from upstate prison
Harvey Weinstein’s lawyer said Saturday that the onetime movie mogul has been hospitalized for a battery of tests after his return to New York City following an appeals court ruling nullifying his 2020 rape conviction.
'We are declaring our readiness': No decision made yet as Poland declares it's ready to host nuclear weapons
Polish President Andrzej Duda says while no decision has been made around whether Poland will host nuclear weapons as part of an expansion of the NATO alliance’s nuclear sharing program, his country is willing and prepared to do so.
Invasive and toxic hammerhead worms make themselves at home in Ontario
Ontario is now home to an invasive and toxic worm species that can grow up to three feet long and can be dangerous to small animals and pets.
Here's where Canadians are living abroad: report
A recent report sheds light on Canadians living abroad--estimated at around four million people in 2016—and the public policies that impact them.
Deadly six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 sparked by road rage incident
One person was killed in a six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 in Innisfil Friday evening.
Central Alberta queer groups react to request from Red Deer-South to reinstate Jennifer Johnson to UCP caucus
A number of LGBQT+2s groups in Central Alberta are pushing back against a request from the Red Deer South UCP constituency to reinstate MLA Jennifer Johnson into the UCP caucus.
Opinion I just don't get Taylor Swift
It's one thing to say you like Taylor Swift and her music, but don't blame CNN's AJ Willingham's when she says she just 'doesn't get' the global phenomenon.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
First court appearance for boy and girl charged in death of Halifax 16-year-old
A girl and a boy, both 14 years old, made their first appearance today in a Halifax courtroom, where they each face a second-degree murder charge in the stabbing death of a 16-year-old high school student.