May 28, 2021 – With the COVID-19 pandemic has come a wave of challenges for Canadians including job loss, which for many has amplified the ongoing struggle to afford basic necessities like menstrual products.
“Nobody should have to choose between buying food or buying period products. We’re putting the call out to Canadians to help us fill the immediate need exacerbated by the pandemic, but also help solve the systemic problem of period poverty in our community,” explains Neal Adolph, Director of the CLC Labour Participation department at United Way of the Lower Mainland.
To help improve access to essential menstrual products and bring awareness to the issue of period poverty in Canada, London Drugs is working with United Way to make period products more accessible as part of a new campaign called Wellness.Period.
Between May 28th and June 30th, for every qualifying period hygiene product purchased at London Drugs, a financial or product donation will be made to United Way for distribution to local community organizations.
Period poverty has profound negative impacts on the lives of those who menstruate, including missed school or work, reduced social and community involvement as well as emotional stress and anxiety. Almost two-thirds of females aged 14 to 55 in Canada say they have had to miss out on an activity because of their period and concerns about not being able to access menstrual hygiene products, according to data from before the pandemic in 2019.
“Families are especially vulnerable to period poverty if they are struggling to cover monthly bills as many are right now as a result of the pandemic. The need for menstrual product donations has never been so high,” says Adolph.
Every menstrual hygiene product purchased at any London Drugs location or online at LondonDrugs.com this June will help United Way get much-needed products to vulnerable people who need them.
“Menstrual supply scarcity is typically associated with other countries. But it is happening right here in our communities,” says Clint Mahlman, President and COO of London Drugs. “Working with our vendor partners, our staff and our customers, we can build healthier, more caring and inclusive communities where everyone has access.”
For more information about the Wellness.Period campaign visit, londondrugs.com/wellnessperiod
ABOUT UNITED WAY
United Way is a federated network of 76 local United Way Centraide offices serving more than 5,000 communities across Canada, each registered as its own non-profit organization and governed by an independent volunteer-led local Board of Directors. Locally and nationally, our goal is the same – to create opportunities for a better life for everyone in our communities.
