At Your Service: Campaign to end period poverty

Campaign to end period poverty closes on a high note

No Woman Without. Period. is wrapping up its third annual month-long menstrual hygiene product drive this weekend with an outstanding total of 75,000 individual items collected at an estimated retail value of nearly $20,000. This includes proceeds from purchases of a special Venus pin by Hillberg & Berk, as well as proceeds from Organyc product purchases through Spud.ca and Blush Lane Organic Market. All menstrual hygiene products will be donated to various non-profit organizations in Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver and Victoria.

“Menstrual products are actually the least donated items when you are donating to any kind of an organization like Bissell Centre or WIN House … they can’t keep it in stock.What that means is women have to go without: they’re using socks, they’re using plastic bags, they’re using napkins, toilet paper, things that they’re finding for free. You know what that is? That’s not okay,” explained the charity’s founder Scarlet Bjornson during her closing speech during a special event at On The Rocks in downtown Edmonton on Wednesday.

“The success of this event shows that this issue is important to our communities. We will keep going to support menstruators who are experiencing crisis, homelessness and poverty. Let’s give them one less thing to worry about. See you next year.”

There is still one more chance to donate to the cause. In celebration of International Women’s Day, there will be two all-female fashion shows in the east food court of Londonderry Mall (137 Ave. and 66 St.) along with an appearance and presentation by motivational speaker and abuse recovery coach Trish Lane.

The fashion shows take place at noon and 1:30 p.m. Lane makes her appearance on the stage at 12:30 p.m. People can also get into the VIP lounge for a $5 donation for food and a swag bag, plus other prizes and surprises.

The donation bins will stay in the east food court at the mall until March 31. Visit www.nowomanwithout.com for more information.