COVID-19 isn't stopping an annual fundraiser that ensures low-income women in Chatham-Kent have access to feminine hygiene products.
The 2020 Tampon Tuesday event will go ahead next week, although it will look different than it has in previous years.
Organized by Women United, an affiliate group of United Way of Chatham-Kent and the Chatham-Kent Labour Council, Tampon Tuesday is recognized across the country each year and provides sanitary napkins, tampons, panty liners, and menstrual cups to homeless women, women on disability or financial assistance, and low-income groups.
Last year, organizers hosted an event where people could socialize while dropping off donations. However, Staff Support for Women United Margery Muharrem said this year the group will be doing a drive-by donation station instead.
On October 20, volunteers will be on hand at the United Way Of Chatham-Kent office at 425 McNaughton Ave. W in Chatham from 9 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. to collect donations.
Muharrem said the United Way was inspired by how other groups have adapted their fundraisers during the pandemic.
"Our building lends itself so well because it literally is like a big circle around," she said. "It works ideal for people to come through, drop off the donation and drive around. So it's very nice and safe."
Once the donations are collected, Muharrem said the team gets to work almost immediately on organizing and distributing the products.
"Once we've collected everything here on the 20th, literally on the 21st our training room here will have a few folks in it... we will portion everything out around the room. We anticipate probably between 13-15 different locations that are going to be accepting products," she explained.
The donations will benefit area food banks, shelters, church groups and outreach programs. Tampon Tuesday 2020 will also feature a new initiative to also provide schools with free menstrual products for puberty aged children. Muharrem said while the group was recently delivering supplies to schools across Chatham-Kent, they became aware of their need for feminine hygiene products.
"We felt, there was obviously a need within the schools to have access to this product," she said. "Sometimes a young woman might start her period for the very first time and not have any product with her."
According to Muharrem, it costs the average Canadian woman $235 per year to purchase necessary hygiene supplies, which can put a serious burden on women who are dealing with homelessness or financial hardships.
The initiative started locally in 2016 and Muharrem said it has grown steadily over the years. In 2019, Tampon Tuesday in Chatham-Kent collected over 1,500 boxes of product which went to 11 local organizations.
"The community has really taken it up and recognizing that when we donate to the food banks and women's shelter, if you ask for hygiene products, it's usually body washes, shampoos, soaps... you never think feminine hygiene products would be something that is so desperately needed and they're so expensive to purchase," said Muharrem. "So there's a choice to be made between feeding your kids their lunch for school that week or buying feminine hygiene products."
For anyone unable to attend the Tampon Tuesday drive-by donation, monetary donations can be made online by clicking here or sending an e-transfer to steve@uwock.ca.
