The Period Promise Pilot Project has officially launched in Innisfail.
Originally announced in April, the pilot includes four dispensers for free menstrual products and enough products for the entire year in washrooms at the town’s aquatic centre and library.
Funded by an $2,800 Innisfail Community Grant (from Elemental Energy), the pilot is a partnership between the Town of Innisfail and Soroptimist International of Central Alberta.
Soroptimists donated $600 as well as advocacy to the pilot, and United Way Central Alberta is covering administration costs.
Related:
City of Red Deer starts stocking free menstrual products to end ‘period poverty’
The pilot will focus mainly on gathering community information surrounding the impact of having access to menstrual products. It will also serve as a community educational tool regarding the period poverty issue and destigmatizing menstruation.
“Innisfail’s Community Services Committee selected this project as a recipient of Community Benefit Grant funding because they were aware of the positive effect it would have on the community,” said Meghan Jenkins, director of community services for Innisfail, in a statement.
“We’re proud we were able to help the United Way Central Alberta with this ground-breaking initiative.”
Related:
Period Promise: Red Deer schools to have free menstrual products
United Way CEO Chelsea O’Donoghue said period poverty makes otherwise ordinary tasks, like going to school or work, a real problem.
“Through surveys, studies, and word of mouth we are discovering that period poverty negatively impacts a portion of central Albertans. We shouldn’t allow something that is so easily solvable obstruct people from taking part in activities,” O’Donoghue said.
Innisfail and area businesses are invited to join the movement to sign the Period Promise Policy and provide free products in their facilities. For more information, contact O’Donoghue 403-347-0513 or chelsea.odonoghue@caunitedway.ca.
szielinski@reddeeradvocate.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter