For many of us, menstruation is a fact of life, but we don’t often give it much thought. We start our period, we grab a box of pads or tampons, and away we go. However, menstrual hygiene products can be costly and far too many individuals, especially those living in poverty, simply cannot afford them.  This is where Tampon Tuesday is helping.

Since 2017, United Way, the Canadian Labour Congress and Bell Media have worked together to raise awareness and collect menstrual products to help address period poverty in our communities by hosting Tampon Tuesday events.

Period poverty is the inability for a person to afford menstrual products and often turn to alternate ways to manage their period.  

• 1 in 4 Canadians have to choose between buying food or period products each month.
   
• During COVID-19, 1 in 7 young people struggled to get period products, and 1 in 7 are worried about their ongoing ability to afford them.1
   
• Nearly 1 in 7 Canadian girls has either left school early or missed school entirely because she did not have access to period products.2 
   
• Women who don’t have access to menstrual products will often resort to wearing the same pad or tampon for prolonged periods of time, which can result in infections and even Toxic Shock Syndrome.
   
• Period products are amongst the least donated, yet most requested items at Food Banks

Most requested products include pads, cloth pads, tampons, liners, diva cups, and period underwear.

Make a financial donation to support the 
Tampon Tuesday campaign.

We are now accepting applications from agencies interested in receiving menstrual hygiene products for their clientele.  Please fill out the application and someone from United Way will be in touch.