For many of us, menstruation is a fact of life, but we don’t often give it much thought. We start our period, we grab a box of pads or tampons, and away we go. However, menstrual hygiene products can be costly and far too many individuals, especially those living in poverty, simply cannot afford them.  This is where Tampon Tuesday is helping.

Since 2017, United Way, the Canadian Labour Congress and Bell Media have worked together to raise awareness and collect menstrual products to help address period poverty in our communities by hosting Tampon Tuesday events.

Period poverty is the inability for a person to afford menstrual products. As a result, people facing period poverty often turn to alternate ways to manage their period.

• 1 in 4 Canadians who menstruate have to choose between buying food or period products each month.
   
• During COVID-19, 1 in 7 young people who menstruate struggled to get period products, and 1 in 7 are worried about their ongoing ability to afford them.1
   
• Nearly 1 in 7 Canadian students who menstruate has either left school early or missed school entirely because she did not have access to period products.2 
   
• Individuals who don’t have access to menstrual products will often resort to wearing the same pad or tampon for prolonged periods of time, which can result in infections and even Toxic Shock Syndrome.
  

Want to get involved?

You can help tackle period poverty by holding a menstrual hygiene product drive.  Contact us by phone at 705-560-3330 or email info@uwcneo.com to learn more.

Need Product?

Are you an organization in need of menstrual hygiene products? 
Let us help! Fill out the online request and a member of the Tampon Tuesday committee will be in touch.