Students and staff at Medicine Hat College are hosting the annual Prevent the Spill campaign. It is held every year to help the Medicine Hat and District Food Bank get menstrual products.--SUBMITTED PHOTO
mcranker@medicinehatnews.com@mocranker
For the fifth consecutive year, Medicine Hat College faculty and students are asking for donations of menstruation products for the local food bank.
Instructor Tara Williams and students have collected thousands of pounds of products over the years and are asking people to take physical donations to Mr. Lube this year. The Prevent the Spill campaign is running from Oct. 25 to Nov. 16.
“This project started years ago because of the need for menstruation products at the Medicine Hat and District Food Bank,” said Williams. “Menstruation products are a necessity and a lot of people, myself included, didn’t think to donate them.
“We started the project to make people aware of the need.”
Once the food bank has the products, it is able to get them in the hands of its clients.
“With food insecurity comes part-time work,” said Williams. “Often people are working part time and if they don’t have the right menstruation product, they may not be able to go to work. That would push them down even further.
“When people have the right products, they can go to school or go to work, and do what they need to do for their families.”
Williams says the campaign is primarily accepting tampon and pad donations, but also taking menstrual cup donations.
“Donating cash allows the food bank to buy items in bulk, which provides a lot of value,” said Williams. “We’re always happy to accept physical donations, but money can go a bit further if people send cash.”
Last year the Prevent the Spill campaign raised around 14,000 pounds of products to help end period poverty.
Mr. Lube is located at 901 Kingsway Ave.
Those who want to support the food bank directly can send money to donate@mhfoodbank.com. Those sending an e-transfer should make the subject or message ‘Donation for Prevent the Spill.’
