Front row (from the left): Volunteer Ayesha Khan, SLC student Olivia Murillo. Back Row: Stephanie Lapointe, Kaylynn Thompson.   Thompson Goddard Photo

CORNWALL – There was a great response from the public in Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, Akwesasne and Cornwall to the 4th Annual Tampon Tuesday Product Drive.  Organized by the United Way/Centraide Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry the event was held between March 8 and 26, culminating in the “Stuff a Cornwall Transit Bus” held at the Shoppers Drug Mart on Brookdale Avenue in Cornwall.

The campaign was designed “to collect menstrual hygiene product donations to help those in need. Period,” according to information on the organization’s website.  After noting this grassroots campaign is “about dignity, aims to highlight the struggles and stigmas around period poverty.” It noted research in 2023 “conducted by Plan International Canada found that 25 per cent of women in Canada who menstruate had to choose between buying menstrual products and paying for other essentials like food and rent.”

During the “Stuff A Bus” event on March 26, Campaign and Communication Coordinator for the organization explained the response from the community had been great, with the transit bus provided by Cornwall Transit. She mentioned Community Food Share, House of Lazarus and Naomi’s Family Resource Centre will be provided with products as needed as will several other organizations in SDG, Cornwall and Akwesasne. During the event four students from the Social Service Program at St. Lawrence College were assisting Lapointe and volunteers during the day as part of a community development project.