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How You Can Help with Menstrual May

We’re launching Menstrual May again in 2024, and we need your help! Whether you’re a business or an individual, there are many ways that you can alleviate period poverty throughout HRM.

Period Poverty

Hundreds of women, girls, and non-binary and transgender individuals in our community experience period poverty. This means they don’t have access to the menstrual products they need, because of the cost, where they live or other social barriers. As a result, people might miss school, work, or social activities. They might be forced to use toilet paper instead of pads or tampons. Period poverty can take a toll on a person over time, and lead to embarrassment.

Menstrual May

Menstrual May is a menstrual product collection effort presented by United Way Halifax, NSGEU, Halifax Public Libraries and the Halifax Convention Centre. We’re asking businesses and individuals in our network to collect and donate as many menstrual products as possible. Once the drive is completed, teams of volunteers will deliver the menstrual products to United Way funded agencies and community organizations serving women and transgender individuals.

Donations will be accepted at the following locations between May 1 – 17:

  • NSGEU’s head office (255 John Savage Avenue, Dartmouth)
  • Halifax Public Libraries (All 14 branches from Musquodoboit Harbour to Tantallon)
  • The Argyle Street Atrium, Halifax Convention Centre (1650 Argyle Street, Halifax)

Staff from united Way Halifax, Enterprise and NSGEU posing for a picture with thousands of menstrual products gathered in support of Tampon Tuesday.

What individuals can do to help

  • Organize a drive – Whether it’s with friends, family or co-workers, every donation counts! Please be sure to drop your collected items off at one of our designated locations by May 17.
  • Spread the word – Share our posts on your social media and encourage people to get involved by word-of-mouth.
  • Get your boss onboard – Ask your employer to organize a drive or make menstrual products available free of charge in their bathrooms

What businesses can do to help

  • Organize a drive – rally your staff members and motivate them to help us address this serious issue for women and gender-diverse individuals in our community. Host an event to engage your workplace team or provide a prize for the staff member who collects the most products!
  • Make menstrual products available in the bathroom of your organization free of charge – you never know who might need them.

 

Assets

Here are some assets to help you launch your drive!

 

Thank you!

We’re so grateful for the support that we’ve seen from the community on this initiative year over year and thank you to everyone getting onboard in 2024! Thanks to your generosity, fewer people in HRM will be forced to choose between buying the menstrual products they need, or paying for other necessities like food, medication or transportation. Every box of pads, tampons, diva cups or wipes makes a difference!

 

We’re here to help:

Peter Ordinelli (He/Him)

Relationship and Development Officer

pordinelli@unitedwayhalifax.ca

(902) 219-7930