Access to menstrual hygiene products is essential—but for many people in our communities, these basic necessities are not always affordable or accessible. This reality, known as period poverty, affects individuals of all ages and backgrounds across Northeastern Ontario.
For the past 10 years, United Way Centraide North East Ontario’s Period Promise initiative, in partnership with the Canadian Labour Congress, Sudbury & District Labour Council, and the North Bay & District Labour Council has been working with community partners, workplaces, and organizations to increase access to free menstrual hygiene products and raise awareness about menstrual equity.
To mark this milestone, we’re inviting community members to take part in 10 Days of Action — a series of simple steps that anyone can take to help address period poverty and support menstrual equity in our region.
Small actions can lead to big change when communities come together.
10 Days of Action
Day 1: Donate Menstrual Products
Donate essential items such as pads, tampons, liners, or reusable menstrual products at one of our community collection sites. These products will be distributed to local organizations supporting individuals experiencing period poverty.
Day 2: Share the Campaign
Help raise awareness by sharing the Period Promise campaign with your friends, family, and colleagues. Spreading the message helps more people understand the issue and get involved.
Day 3: Donate $10 for 10 Years of Impact
A financial contribution—whether $10 or more—helps expand access to free menstrual hygiene products in our communities. Every dollar supports product distribution to organizations serving those who need them most.
Day 4: Host a Collection Drive or Fundraiser
Bring your workplace, school, or community group together to support the campaign. Collection drives and small fundraisers are powerful ways to gather products and raise awareness about menstrual equity.
Day 5: Learn About Period Poverty
Take time to read, watch, or listen to resources that explain the realities of period poverty and why menstrual equity matters in Canada and in our own communities.
Day 6: Talk Openly About Periods
Breaking the stigma around menstruation starts with conversation. Talking openly about menstrual health helps normalize the topic and creates a more supportive environment for everyone.
Day 7: Invite Someone to the Period Promise Wrap-Up Event
Encourage a friend, colleague, or family member to attend the Period Promise Wrap-Up Event and learn more about the campaign and its community impact.
Day 8: Advocate for Change
Support policies and initiatives that improve access to menstrual hygiene products in workplaces, schools, and community spaces.
Day 9: Make the Period Promise
Commit to providing free menstrual products where you live, work, or learn. Placing products in washrooms or shared spaces can make a meaningful difference for those who need them.
Day 10: Join the Celebration
Celebrate 10 years of impact at a Period Promise Wrap-Up Event. These gatherings recognize the collective efforts of community members and highlight the progress being made to address period poverty.
Why Menstrual Equity Matters
Without access to menstrual hygiene products, individuals may miss school, work, or community activities. Period poverty can also affect physical health, mental well-being, and dignity.
By working together, we can remove these barriers and ensure that everyone in our communities has access to the products they need.
The Period Promise initiative demonstrates the power of collective action. When individuals, workplaces, and community organizations come together, we can expand access to essential products and create lasting change.
Take Action Today
Ending period poverty takes community action—and everyone can play a role. Whether you donate products, start a conversation, host a collection drive, or attend an event, your involvement helps ensure more people in Northeastern Ontario have access to essential menstrual hygiene products.
Through United Way Centraide North East Ontario’s Period Promise initiative, partners across the region are working together to increase access to free menstrual products and reduce stigma around menstrual health.
Learn how you can get involved, find donation locations, or host your own collection drive by visiting the Period Promise page.
Together, we can create communities where everyone has access to the products they need—because menstrual health is a basic need, not a luxury.