Period Poverty refers to the inability to access menstrual products, a global health crisis that has an adverse effect on the health and dignity of people affected and disproportionately affects vulnerable populations and youth.
In Summer 2021, the City of Calgary, in partnership with the Calgary Public Library and Youth Central’s Mayor’s Youth Council, quietly launched a pilot project entitled Free. Period. As period poverty affects female menstruators, non-binary and trans individuals, the pilot project provides free pads and tampons in both men’s and women’s washrooms in select City and Library facilities, including Central Library and the Village Square Leisure Centre, a shared library facility.
With support from our donors, this year, the Library expanded the project to Louise Riley, Judith Umbach, Forest Lawn and Saddletowne libraries, and will be adding dispensers at Shawnessy library once renovations are complete.
Our goal is to expand this initiative to all Library locations. Not having access to period products impacts Calgarians in the classroom, workplace and everyday life. Community libraries are accessible across the city and welcoming to all, making them the ideal locations for this initiative. Period.
Your donation of $31.50 provides menstrual products for a day – available with no stigma or judgment – to those who need them.
“There have been times in my life where I couldn’t afford tampons or pads, so I would just use toilet paper or hope it wasn’t too bad. It was messy and I would feel ashamed. There are no downsides to this initiative.” – Free. Period. user
