Period Promise Pilot Project Has Arrived in Innisfail!

Innisfail, Alberta – United Way Central Alberta (UWCA) is pleased to announce that after a brief delay, the Period Promise Pilot Project has officially launched in the town of Innisfail.

This pilot, in partnership with The Town of Innisfail and Soroptimist International of Central Alberta, includes four dispensers for free menstrual products and enough products for the entire year in washrooms at the Town’s aquatic centre and library. Funding for the pilot project has been provided by an Innisfail Community Grant (from Elemental Energy) of $2800.

Soroptimist International of Central Alberta have donated $600 as well as advocacy to the pilot, and United Way is covering administration costs. The pilot will focus mainly on gathering community information surrounding the impact of having access to menstrual products. It will also serve as a community educational tool regarding the period poverty issue and destigmatizing menstruation.

“Innisfail’s Community Services Committee selected this project as a recipient of Community Benefit Grant funding because they were aware of the positive effect it would have on the community,” said Meghan Jenkins, Director of Community Services for the Town of Innisfail. “We’re proud we were able to help the United Way Central Alberta with this ground-breaking initiative.”

UWCA Chief Executive Officer Chelsea O’Donoghue said “We are learning more and more about how period poverty makes otherwise ordinary tasks like going to school or work a real problem. Through surveys, studies, and word of mouth we are discovering that period poverty negatively impacts a portion of Central Albertans. We shouldn’t allow something that is so easily solvable obstruct people from taking part in activities.”

Innisfail and area businesses are invited to join the movement to sign the Period Promise Policy and provide free products in their facilities. For more information, contact Chelsea O’Donoghue 403-347-0513 or chelsea.odonoghue@caunitedway.ca and visit caunitedway.ca/periodpromise