Medicine Hat Skateboard Association, Redcliff Youth Centre and Root Cellar representatives pose with a portion of their collected feminine hygiene products.--News Photo Anna Smith
asmith@medicinehatnews.com
The Medicine Hat Skateboard Association’s collaborative campaign to end period poverty in the city may be over for now, but the work continues.
Representatives from MHSA, Redcliff Youth Centre and Root Cellar all met Saturday to count the results of the month-long campaign to collect menstrual products for those in need within the city.
The product was collected at various locations throughout the city, as well as “takeover days” at different grocery stores, says MHSA member Davie James, in which members would speak with customers and encourage them to purchase and donate as part of their regular grocery shopping that day.
“After tallying everything up, we collected $14,470 in product,” said James. This amount more than doubles what they managed to collect last year, something for which James is immensely proud and grateful.
Root Cellar executive director Melissa Mullis, who was present for the wrap-up, expressed her gratitude for all the work that MSHA and the community at large put in to provide products, something the food bank is often in need of.
“I just want to say thank you to everybody for the hard work that was put in here, all the hours sitting at grocery stores, collecting product and talking with friends and family. It’s really important to make sure that we can keep this stuff on the shelf so we can ensure that people don’t have to choose between food or period products,” said Mullis.
James reminds the community that this is an awareness campaign for an ongoing issue; while MHSA members are pleased with the results of the collection drive, they hope the people of Medicine Hat continue to work to make sure these products are available when needed.
“It doesn’t end here,” said James. “Please keep donating to the Root Cellar, they are an amazing organization.”
Looking forward to next year, James says they hope to get more partnerships involved with the collection drive, as well as host more takeover days at different stores, to build on the momentum they’ve gathered this year.
