Free menstrual products to be stocked in select Hamilton rec centre washrooms, food banks
Free menstrual products can now be found at select recreation centres and at 23 emergency food centres across the city.
The year-long pilot project that began Wednesday will see the city provide $121,000 in funding for tampons and pads in women's and universal washrooms at select recreation centres, and will help Hamilton Food Share secure products for distribution through their network.
Hamilton Food Share will receive $91,000 of that funding, and Joanne Santucci, the executive director of the organization, couldn't be more thrilled.
Santucci said with the pandemic and an overall increase in the cost of living, menstrual products are tougher to secure for folks. Still, it's a health issue and a basic need."
The Emergency Food Network within Hamilton sees almost 22,000 visits every month representing 12,613 unique individuals residing in more than 5,000 households, Food Share said in a release.
Food banks regularly tell Santucci that customers ask for these products, and they're desperate" to get it on their shelves, she said.
The project expects to distribute around 35,000 products over the course of the year to about 3,000 people each month.
Food Share is also working to build partnerships to ensure the project can be self-sustaining over time.
One of those partners is Hamilton-based Tennier Sanitation, and they donated a month's worth of products, Santucci said.
We are very excited to be helping Hamilton Food Share launch this program," said company president Darren Slemko in a release.
The project was initially announced last year but was put on hold due to the pandemic.
Mayor Fred Eisenberger said the city is pleased to support the initiative.
By removing barriers and creating easier access to essential products, community members have the option to access resources at variety food banks and at a time that suits them," he said.
A report on the project, including the distribution methods, products and costs, is expected to be released in late 2022.
Alessia Passafiume is a reporter at The Spectator. apassafiume@thespec.com