United Way campaign seeking support to fight period poverty

United Way British Columbia is getting the word out that period poverty is more widespread than is commonly known.

The agency says at least half of people who menstruate will struggle with access to products at some point in their lives, and with the rising costs of basic goods, this amount is increasing.

United Way BC’s 2023 Period Promise campaign, presented by Pacific Blue Cross in partnership with CUPE Local 1816, is asking British Columbians to help tackle period poverty from May 16 to June 13 by giving financially, donating period products, or organizing their own Period Promise campaign.

The goal is to match last year’s collection record of over 700,000 menstrual products.

United Way research suggests that:

• 26 per cent of people who menstruate in B.C. say that they had gone through a period without having menstrual products available to them

• Not having access to menstrual products is an isolating factor: 18 per cent of respondents indicated that they missed school, 22 per cent work, 29 per cent community events, and 27 per cent social events when they didn’t have access.

• Nearly 75 per cent of respondents indicated that having access to products at community organizations allows them to be more engaged in their community.

According to Statistics Canada’s Consumer Price Index, the cost of personal care items like tampons and pads is up 6.2 per cent compared to last year. This means a surging number of British Columbians who menstruate are struggling to keep up with cost increases and are falling short of affording menstrual products.

Learn more: www.uwbc.ca/periodpromise