Boxes upon boxes of feminine hygiene products were stacked high at Overtime Bar and Grill on Feb. 28 for the United Way Sudbury and Nipissing Districts inaugural Tampon Tuesday.
The local United Way partnered with a number of different unions including OECTA (Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association), OSSTF (Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation) and USW 2020 Women of Steel for a day aimed at providing hygiene products for women in need.
"We want to ensure that all women have access to these needed products," said Nicole Beaulieu, director of labour and community services, United Way. "This event is about empowering women, bringing labour and the community together, helping each other out and just having an opportunity to learn and socialize together, in a relaxed and inclusive environment."
Along with the local union members who stepped up to make donations, members of the community also pitched in, as did Shoppers Drug Mart.
This event has existed for nearly a decade in the southern parts of the province, and now the north is hopping on board as Sudbury hosted their first on Tuesday evening, and North Bay will host their first a week later on March 7.
"These products can be expensive and a lot of people don't realize that you can actually donate feminine hygiene products," said Beaulieu. "These will go to the Sudbury Food Bank and Sudbury Women's Shelter. People think food bank and they think of food, but there's also a big need for these products."
Beaulieu says that anyone, from the homeless community, to people living on a fixed income, or just those who are having a tough time, can make use of this resource.
The event was also a vehicle to promote United Way's 211 line, a number that can be called for those seeking access to United Way's services, from both sides.
"It's a resource for both those who want to donate and want to know where they can drop products off, and for those seeking these products and need to know where they can pick them up," said Gabrielle Bonin, communications and engagement coordinator, United Way.
While the Tampon Tuesday program is in its infancy, Beaulieu says she was impressed with the amount of donations that came in and the number of people who came out to the event on Feb. 28.
"We're still in the pilot stages, but I think it's been really successful so far," said Beaulieu.
"We'll look at establishing more partnerships for this and then we'll go forward and hopefully this can become a regular thing."
