INNISFAIL – After a brief delay the Period Promise pilot project for Innisfail has been launched.
On Sept. 29, United Way Central Alberta (UWCA) announced the go ahead for the project, which was first slated to be rolled out last April.
The pilot project, in partnership with the Town of Innisfail and Soroptimist International of Central Alberta, includes four dispensers for free menstrual products and enough products for the entire year in washrooms at the town’s aquatic centre and library.
Funding for the pilot project has been provided by an Innisfail Community Grant of $2,800 that was secured by Elemental Energy, owner and operator of the Innisfail Solar Farm.
Soroptimist International of Central Alberta have donated $600 and pilot project advocacy. United Way is covering administration costs.
In a news release, UWCA said the pilot project will focus mainly on gathering community information surrounding the impact of having access to menstrual products.
The pilot project will also serve as a community educational tool for the period poverty issue and destigmatizing menstruation.
“Innisfail’s Community Services Committee selected this project as a recipient of Community Benefit Grant funding because they were aware of the positive effect it would have on the community,” said Meghan Jenkins, director of community services for the Town of Innisfail.
“We’re proud we were able to help United Way Central Alberta with this ground-breaking initiative.”
Chelsea O’Donoghue, chief executive officer of UWCA, said it was important that the issue of period poverty be addressed.
“We are learning more and more about how period poverty makes otherwise ordinary tasks like going to school or work a real problem,” said O’Donoghue. “Through surveys, studies, and word of mouth we are discovering that period poverty negatively impacts a portion of Central Albertans. We shouldn’t allow something that is so easily solvable obstruct people from taking part in activities.”
The UWCA news release added Innisfail and area businesses are invited to join the movement to sign the Period Promise Policy and provide free products in their facilities.
