NEWS RELEASE
For immediate release:
Annual Tampon Tuesday donation drive encourages community to donate menstrual hygiene products for individuals in need
Donations will be collected from March 1 – 31, 2022 throughout KFL&A
Kingston, ON (February 24, 2022) United Way KFL&A is excited to announce the third annual Tampon Tuesday collection drive in the region. This initiative will once again work locally with national Tampon Tuesday partners Bell Media, organized Labour and Shoppers Drug Mart.
Starting March 1 and running until March 31, 2022, community members are encouraged to donate pads, tampons, liners and other menstrual hygiene products. The donation drive aims to fill a gap in the Kingston Frontenac, Lennox & Addington area.
“We know that menstrual hygiene products are among the most requested items at local food banks and shelters, but the least donated,” said Bhavana Varma, President and CEO of United Way KFL&A. “There are individuals who are vulnerable, with diverse needs when it comes to menstrual hygiene in our community. We know many in the community are eager to help – this is an opportunity to do just that.”
Last year the KFL&A community showed their local love and support by donating over 128,000 products. These products are vital to agencies throughout the community and make an impact each day.
“Individuals experiencing homelessness are continuously faced with a variety of challenges and individuals that menstruate have the added pressure or worry of finding hygiene products such as tampons or pads,” explained Catherine Oxford, Manager of Youth Services at Kingston Youth Shelter. “With the donations that we received from the drive last year, we have been able to assist our clients by taking away that added worry of finding or affording products, giving our clients the ability to dedicate more of their focus and attention on finding safe and permanent housing.”
As the pandemic continues, this year’s drive will once again promote workplace and individual collection drives of products as well as drop offs at locations throughout the region.
“Workplaces, neighbourhoods, families, individuals – everyone is encouraged to get involved and start their own drives for this important need in our community and then drop off at the collection sites,” added Varma. “The pandemic has made these needs even more prevalent, and every donation helps.”
Donations will be collected at the following locations:
Cataraqui Town Centre (in partnership with MOVE 98.3): drop off at Guest Services during operating hours until March 8th
From March 1 through 31 people can drop off at:
Products can also be donated through an Amazon wishlist and monetary donations can be made online. Community members can also contact the United Way KFL&A office at 613.542.2674 or at events@unitedwaykfla.ca if none of the above options or locations work and a pickup or drop off can be arranged.
For more information and resources including collection site posters, social media posts and more visit www.unitedwaykfla.ca/tampontuesday
Note: United Way KFL&A encourages inclusiveness for Tampon Tuesday events. Please use the term “menstrual hygiene products” versus “feminine hygiene products”.
About Tampon Tuesday
Started in London Ontario, the grassroots movement began in 2009 after Mandi Fields toured a local foodbank and discovered an empty shelf in the non-food cupboard. Knowing the cost of these items, and their importance to women’s health and dignity, she felt the need could not continue to be overlooked and came up with a plan to provide a solution.Tampon Tuesday’s continue to grow as an opportunity to collect products for people experiencing period poverty.
In 2017 United Way Centraide’s Labour Programs and Services joined forces with Tampon Tuesday and Bell Media to begin holding events to help people across Canada.
How will product be distributed locally
Following the donation drive, products will be sorted by volunteers and distributed to various agencies in the community including Addiction & Mental Health Services, Boys & Girls Club, Dawn House, Dress for Success, Elizabeth Fry Society of Kingston, Girls Inc, HIV/AIDS Regional Services + Mobile Unit, Integrated Care Hub, Home Base Housing – One Roof, Rise@one4nine, In From the Cold, Independent Living Centre Kingston, Kingston Community Health Centres Kingston & Napanee, Pathways to Education, KHSC Detox, Kingston Interval House, Kingston Youth Shelter, L&A Interval House, Lionhearts Inc., Lunch by George, Maltby Centre, Martha’s Table. Morningstar Mission, North Frontenac Food Bank, Partners in Mission Food Bank, Resolve Counselling Centres, Rural Frontenac Community Services, Salvation Army Community & Family Services – Kingston & Napanee, Southern Frontenac – Food Bank, Street Health, St. Vincent de Paul Society, and Youth Diversion.
About United Way KFLA
United Way Kingston Frontenac Lennox & Addington works closely with the community to ensure that people have the opportunity to reach their full potential and live with hope, dignity and a sense of belonging. This vision is realized by building on deep-rooted local community knowledge and relationships to empower people to make an impact.
Led by volunteers, driven by a small professional staff team, the United Way KFL&A provides inspiring opportunities for people to get involved and support issues they care about through volunteering, giving and being advocates for people who are in vulnerable situations.
Stay up to date by following our social media channels – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn and look for regular updates on our website at www.unitedwaykfla.ca
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Media Contact:
Mandy Pasch, Director, Marketing and Communications
United Way KFL&A
613-876-3088, marketing@unitedwaykfla.ca
