Period Party campaign moves to province and feds as County installs free menstrual products in pilot project

Ramona Roblin, 9, lead this year’s Period Party fundraiser and awareness campaign.

The municipality has taken its first step toward ending period poverty in the community with the installation of dispensers for free menstrual products at the Picton and Wellington community centres as part of a pilot project.

“We are happy to see the county has taken this first step towards addressing period poverty in our communities since our deputation last spring,” said Alison Kelly, who has co-hosted the annual Period Party fundraising and awareness event with 10-year-old Ramona Roblin for the past several years.

The two approached council last year to advocate for free menstrual products in public places and shared results of community support that saw the campaign raise $10,000 in products and $2,000 in cash which was shared among all schools in the district.

” We encourage the County to include public parks and all county buildings, including maintenance garages and town halls, as part of their future plans,” said Kelly. “We would also love to see them take it further and implement a period leave policy for County workers.”

Kelly adds she and Ramona have a meeting scheduled with MP Ryan Williams later this month, to talk about their project.

“We seek support on how we can influence federal policy on period leave. We also have a tentative visit to Queens Park at the end of May, as guests of the Official Leader of Opposition, Marit Stiles, who has been watching this project for the past few years. Locally, we have plans to make deputations to Belleville council and Quinte West council to continue the conversation.”

Staff will monitor results of the pilot at the two community centres and report back to Council this fall on a long-term plan for free menstrual products in additional facilities.