Community members in need will be helped through first Tampon Tuesday donation drive in KFL&A

Donations will be collected from March 3 – 12, 2020 throughout KFL&A

Kingston, ON (March 2, 2020) United Way KFL&A is excited to partner with Bell Media, national Tampon Tuesday partner, local Labour partners and Queen’s University for the first Tampon Tuesday collection drive in the region, following International Women’s Week.

Starting March 3 and running until March 12, 2020, community members are encouraged to donate pads, tampons, liners and other menstrual hygiene products. The donation drive aims to fill a gap in the Kingston Frontenac, Lennox & Addington area.

“We know that menstrual hygiene products are among the most requested items at local food banks and shelters, but the least donated,” said Bhavana Varma, President and CEO of United Way KFL&A. “There are individuals who are vulnerable, with diverse needs when it comes to menstrual hygiene in our community, and many are eager to help – this is an opportunity to do just that and hopefully this is the first of many Tampon Tuesday events in our area.”

Donations will be collected at the following locations:

Downtown

• United Way KFL&A office, 417 Bagot Street: Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• United Steelworkers, Local 2010, 154 Albert Street (2nd floor): Monday to Friday from 3 to 5 p.m.

West End

• Secura Financial, 1375 Gardiners Road: Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Energetics Health and Fitness, 631 Fortune Crescent, Unit 11 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Napanee

• Lennox & Addington Youth Hub, 41 Dundas Street, Napanee: Monday to Friday from 3 to 6 p.m.

Products can also be donated through an Amazon wishlist and monetary donations can be made online. Community members can also contact the United Way KFL&A office at 613.542.2674 or at events@unitedwaykfla.ca if none of the above options or locations work and a pickup or drop off can be arranged.

Bell Media, in partnership with the Egg Farmers of Ontario, will also be hosting a special Tampon Tuesday event on Tuesday, March 10th from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Grizzly Grill in Kingston The event will feature food, refreshments and interesting speakers and guests are asked to bring one box of menstrual hygiene products that will go towards the United Way KFL&A donation drive as admission.

Following both the donation drive and event, products will be sorted by volunteers and distributed to various agencies in the community including Lunch by George, Kingston & L&A Interval Houses, local shelters, food banks, Dawn House, Pathways to Education, Kingston Community Health Centre, HIV/AIDS Regional Services, Street Health, Elizabeth Fry Society of Kingston and more.

For more information visit https://www.unitedwaykfla.ca/events/donation-drive-march-3-12-2020/

About Tampon Tuesday

Started in London Ontario, Tampon Tuesday is a program about dignity. The grassroots movement began in 2009 and continues to grow as an opportunity to collect products for people experiencing period poverty. Tampon Tuesday celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2019 with more than 40 communities participating.

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Media Contacts:
Mandy Pasch, Manager, Marketing and Communications
United Way KFL&A
613-542-2674, ext. 1204, marketing@unitedwaykfla.ca