Province rallies around Period Promise
Thanks to our sponsors, partners, and donors throughout the province, this year’s United Way BC Period Promise Campaign, presented by Pacific Blue Cross in partnership with CUPE Local 1816 was a resounding success. In all, over 550,000 period products were collected and distributed to community partners across BC for people in need, but perhaps even more importantly, word is spreading about this growing issue.
“The strength of this initiative lies not only in the tangible support it provides, but in the message it carries – that no individual should ever have to choose between menstrual products and other basic needs… What arrives in our hands is not simply product, but empowerment, equity, and a reminder that no one is unseen.”
Ravi Vliet, Resource Centre Coordinator/Emergency Disaster Services Coordinator, Salvation Army Kamloops
A needs assessment carried out earlier this Spring with our non-profit partners across BC indicated that more than 14 million products were needed to meet the demand for accessible period products this year. With prices continuing to soar, period poverty is a very real and growing issue in our community. Like other forms of poverty, it disproportionately affects IBPOC (Indigenous, Black, People of Colour), people living with disabilities, trans people, and other historically marginalized groups. While financial accessibility is a defining characteristic of period poverty, geographic location, disability, gender, ethnicity, and culture can also be significant factors.
“For many who struggle to afford basic necessities, menstrual products can become an unmanageable monthly expense. By providing sustainable, long-lasting alternatives like menstrual cups, and period underwear, you help ensure that no one has to choose between food and hygiene or miss out on school or work due to lack of supplies.”
Julie Van Eesteren, Manager of Children’s Services, Sea to Sky Community Services
Many Hands Make Light Work
We are incredibly grateful to our longtime Period Promise presenting sponsor, Pacific Blue Cross in partnership with CUPE 1816, for their generous monetary and in-kind contributions to our annual collection campaign including a $25,000 gift match which enables us to provide grants to some of our more rural and remote community partners, allowing them to purchase period products for those in need.
We also wouldn’t be able to make a dent in the demand without the incredibly generous support from our product sponsors, Always and Tampax, collection sponsors, CUPE BC, as well as almost 80 organizations across the province that came together to collect products, raise funds, and generate awareness in support of our annual Period Promise campaign.
From grassroots community activists like the GLOW and Interact clubs at Hugh Boyd Secondary, in Richmond and Planet Fitness in Nanaimo, to a one day Fill the Bus event in Victoria, and a month-long on-air and on-the-street campaign by our friends Holly and Nira at Virgin Radio in Vancouver, the province rallied in support of a need that is vastly outstripping supply.
“…We are just reading on the CHEK News website the article that campaign to combat period poverty returns to Tillicum Centre (Victoria) this weekend. Thank you for doing that. That is brilliant. That is so necessary, and bravo. Kudos!”
Anonymous voicemail
Collecting period products, however, is only one part of the solution. We also need to distribute them around this vast province to ensure that they get into the hands of those who need them most. On that side of the equation, we are thankful to partners like Soap for Hope, DoorDash, Helicopters Without Borders, and all of our corporate and labour partners who not only ran campaigns but also organized deliveries to their local non-profits.
Special thanks go to local labour councils, especially NWDLC whose members consistently volunteer to pack up bundles and help with deliveries. Together, with help from partners, donors, and volunteers like you, we are increasing access to free menstrual products in our community so that everyone who menstruates can go to work, get to school, access services, and stay connected.
While there is still much work to do, every conversation and every donation of tampons, pads, cups, or underwear raises awareness, reduces stigma, and tackles the vulnerability and isolation caused by period poverty. United Way BC’s Period Promise campaign is committed to making it easier for everybody to access the product they need, when they need it. Thank you for helping us tackle this very real and tangible need.
Together we are united for access to period products.