On May 28th, we wrapped up our month-long Period Promise Campaign with an incredible Social Celebration at The Match Eatery & Public House. All menstrual products collected will benefit frontline services in our community. We are honoured to have Karen, the Executive Director of the Chatham-Kent Women’s Centre, share firsthand how Period Promise supports their work.
Every year, the Chatham-Kent Women’s Centre supports over 300 women and girls, providing a safe haven and vital resources during some of the most challenging moments of their lives. For many of these individuals, access to basic necessities is a daily obstacle, and the ability to afford essential menstrual products is a burden they simply cannot carry alone.
I would like to again thank United Way Windsor-Essex Chatham-Kent for running their month long Period Promise campaign and bringing our community at the Period Promise Social Celebration. Public initiatives like these help shine light on such a serious issue and help remove the stigma often attached to period poverty.
17% of people in Canada who menstruate have experienced period poverty and that number jumps to 1 in 4 among people living in lower income households. When women and girls cannot afford to buy period products, they might turn to unsafe alternatives like using products for too long or not using them as directed which could raise health risks including infections. Others may skip school, work or social events because they don’t have period products.
When we look at the scale of the crisis we find that:
- In 2023 15% of Canadians who menstruate said their inability to afford menstrual products held then back from participating in daily activities.
- 82% of Canadians responding to a Plan International Canada survey felt that period products were too expensive.
- Period poverty disproportionately affects indigenous and racialized communities, youth, people experiencing homelessness and marginalized or lower-income individuals.
We greatly appreciate the donations of period products from United Way Windsor-Essex Chatham-Kent for our women and girls who use our services at the Chatham Kent Women’s Centre. Period products are placed in each of our bathrooms at the Women’s’ Centre and made readily available to anyone using our services. This type of community support is integral to making this possible.
To all who donated with a monetary or product donation, or simply chose to share a Facebook post to help raise awareness, thank you.
Karen Hunter
Executive Director, Chatham-Kent Women’s Centre
