By Lisa Parent

A step towards ending period poverty in Medicine Hat

Sep 14, 2023 | 12:25 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – The women’s shelter always welcomes donations from the community, like pillows, suitcases and diapers. However, one item that may be forgotten in many donations, was given in boxes this week. Much needed feminine hygiene products were donated by the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE), in their movement to end period poverty.

Natasha Carvalho, Executive Director of the Medicine Hat Women’s Shelter Society says feminine products are pricey. With the price of living going up, buying menstrual products may fall lower on women’s priorities to buy.

Carvalho already praises Medicine Hat for being thoughtful and adding menstrual products to many public washrooms, but hopes the movement grows bigger.

“I think with inflation and everything going up now, those kind of things are expensive,” says Carvalho. “We know a lot of women are just using toilet paper themselves instead of pads, or using old rags and having to wash them. Women menstruate for the majority of (their) life, so you need those kind of products, young girls need those kind of supports.”

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The women’s shelter will accept all unused feminine hygiene donations, even if boxes have been opened but are no longer being used.