The includes 29,366 pads, 4,533 liners, 7,550 tampons, 26 cups, 7 reusable pads, 55 reusable period underwear, 7 disposable underwear and 12 disposable discs with an estimated value of $20,725.
Donated products will be distributed by Kawartha Food Share to local food banks and other agencies in order to get items into the hands of those who struggle to afford them on their own.
The goal for the tenth annual Period Promise drive was to collect at least 25,000 items, while opening opportunities for dialogue about menstruation. By focusing on inclusion, awareness building, advocacy and greater diversity of product options, the United Way team hopes that those who menstruate, including women, trans-men and non-binary individuals feel more comfortable discussing the realities of their bodily experience.
“We still have a lot of work to do in terms of normalizing menstruating as a whole, as this process is not talked about nearly enough,” said Lindsay Young, Trans Peer Outreach Worker and Trans Family Support Worker at Canadian Mental Health Association, Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge. “One big step moving forward would be to talk about the way different bodies menstruate, allowing for more inclusive and diverse products and conversations.”
The United Way team has collaborated with several organizations and workplaces as part of this work, including three International Women’s Day events running menstrual product drives as part of their efforts: Kawartha World Issues Centre, the Tiffany Show and Delta Phi Nu at Trent University.
Several workplaces ran internal collection drives and the City of Peterborough provided three public drop off locations: City Hall, Miskin Law Community Complex and the Peterborough Public Library. The Women’s Business Network kicked off this year’s Period Promise campaign by donating 6,101 items, nearly one quarter of the 25,000-item goal.
“With our renewed focus on reconciliation, equity, accessibility, diversity and inclusion or READI, it’s important that these efforts are embedded across everything we do, so it’s been exciting to see our Community Impact Officer and two Campaign Officers take this on board as they promoted our 2026 Period Promise drive,” said Jim Russell, CEO of United Way Peterborough & District. “The two pillars that guide our work are Poverty to Possibility and Building Strong & Healthy Communities, and I believe that this year’s Period Promise has truly embodied those aims.”
