United Way BC’s Period Promise campaign looks to address increased period poverty in Kamloops area

KAMLOOPS — United Way BC’s annual Period Promise campaign kicked off earlier this month, running until May 31. This year’s campaign is working to combat the growing rate of people in the local area who are experiencing period poverty.

The campaign provides period products to agencies whose clients may be living in poverty or are struggling to afford menstrual products.

More than a dozen agencies in and around the local area have applied to receive donated products for their clients. This year, the United Way BC Thompson-Nicola Cariboo Region’s Campaign Manager Chelsea Ingram says more than 450,000 products are needed in Kamloops.

“We’re asking the community and businesses to step up and help support with our campaign. They can do that in a few different ways. They can support by running a collection campaign within their workplaces, asking their employees and staff to collect products or monetary donations, and all of those donations will be used to go back into our community to help support the need,” says Ingram.

Two recent reports on period poverty found that one-in-four people who menstruate have dealt with budget constraints, forcing them to choose other essentials over period products (The Hidden Cost of Periods: A Canadian Perspective, 2023). The other report identified nearly half of people who menstruate in B.C. as having struggled to purchase period products at some point in their life (Period Promise Final Report, 2021).

Both reports also found that having reliable access to these products can improve someone’s quality of life.

“This year, we are hoping to match workplaces with a non-profit,” explains Ingram. “We have a needs assessment and what they’re looking for. Some non-profits are very specific with their clientele of what their needs are. We’re really trying to match that so we can ensure that they’re getting their wish list of what they need versus just what’s kind of given to them and then there’s things that they can’t use.”

Workplaces can sign up directly through United Way BC by contacting Ingram at chelseai@uwbc.ca, while individual donations can be made online, and products can also be dropped off in-person at any of the dozen locations taking part in Kamloops. (See list below).

Locations:

YMCA Downtown (400 Battle St)

YMCA Northshore (John Tod Centre)

All Nations Trust Co (520 Chief Eli LaRue Way)

Sun Life Financial (#103 1295 – 12th st)

RE/Max Kamloops (258 Seymour Street)

Downtown Kamloops Office (231 Victoria St)

Cordo Restaurant (540 Victoria St)

5 Bean Brewhouse & Café (289 Tranquille Rd)

5 Bean Brewhouse & Café (900-1210 Summit Dr)

Kamloops Florist (605 Victoria St)

Far and Wide (353 Victoria St)

Events:

Cordo Restaurant: Period Promise fundraiser, May 16 – 31.

Downtown Kamloops: Everyone who drops off product donations to their site throughout the month of May is entered into a draw for a $50 Downtown Kamloops Gift Certificate

North Shore Business Improvement Association (NSBIA): Ladies who Lunch event collection campaign, May 12 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Yew Street Food Hall.