Monthly Tampon Tuesday events in Sarnia are resuming, to collect menstrual products for food bank users at the Inn of the Good Shepherd.
Such products are “the most requested and least donated items in food banks,” said Michelle Parks, with the local Tampon Tuesday chapter.
Events have been held and donations received sporadically since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic three years ago, Parks said.
“We figure the Inn is in need moreso now than ever with prices rising, so we thought we’d get it back started and be able to donate on a more consistent level for menstrual products,” she said.
Most of the one-off events were in the summer at Stokes Inland, but they collected far fewer than the 100-500 products typically brought in pre-pandemic at monthly get-togethers at the Sarnia location, Parks said.
Hopes are a return to regular events helps, she said.
About 50 pre-pandemic people typically attended Tampon Tuesday events from 5-7 pm every first Tuesday of the month.
The first social gathering at Stokes Inland is March 7, she said.
“All we ask is you bring a box of menstrual products,” Parks said.
Meanwhile, donations are also being collected at the March 15 Sarnia Sting game against the Hamilton Bulldogs at the Progressive Auto Sales Arena, she said.
Scotiabank is partnering with the Sting on the initiative called End Period Poverty.
“We’ll be there, collecting menstrual products,” Parks said.
Donations are also being collected at a sold-out Ladies Night fundraiser hosted by the Brigden Optimist Club at the Brigden Fairgrounds March 24, Parks said.
“We have a few things going on right now.”
The Inn of the Good Shepherd doesn’t always get a lot of menstrual product donations for its food bank, said Inn executive director Myles Vanni.
“It’s really nice having those donated for women and girls that need that and we certainly share them with other agencies as well,” he said.
About 2,000 people use the food bank per month, he said.
“Inflation is really pinching a lot of people.”