Huron County Library is Participating in the Drive to End Period Poverty This Month

by Bob Montgomery

As a member of the Huron-Perth Period Poverty Task Force, the Huron County Library will be participating in the Drive to End Period Poverty from March 3rd to March 10th.

During this time, residents are invited to help put an end to period poverty by dropping off new, unopened packages of commonly used period products to any Huron County Library branch during regular hours of operation.

Products in need include new and unopened:

• Tampons, pads, and liners for a variety of menstrual flow needs

• Menstrual cups and discs

• Period underwear in a variety of sizes

For the convenience of donors, an Amazon shopping page has been created where shoppers can select and pay for products that will then be delivered by Amazon directly to the Huron-Perth Period Poverty Task Force. Donors can find that purchasing option by going to: https://www.amazon.ca/hz/wishlist/ls/MN96B5WHMH8P?ref_=wl_share

Huron County Librarian Beth Rumble says the Period Poverty project started last fall and she says it's something that isn't discussed very often but affects a lot of people. “There can be some stigma associated with it so we're trying to reduce that by talking about it and you will also see education posters throughout the week to provide some of that information and make sure that everyone's aware of what Period Poverty is and to normalize that a bit.”

The Huron-Perth Period Poverty Taskforce includes representation from:

• United Way Perth Huron;

• Huron Women's Shelter;

• Optimism Place;

• Perth County Information Network,

• Stratford Public Library;

• Huron County Library;

• Avon Maitland District School Board;

• The Emily Murphy Centre;

• And others.

More information about the Huron-Perth Period Poverty Task Force can be found at www.connectedcountyofhuron.ca/period-poverty