Shoppers Drug Mart (SDM) and the Manitoba government will work together to provide free menstrual products to schools and other agencies to “reduce period poverty.”.Minister of Education and Early Childhood Learning Wayne Ewasko and Minister of Families and Status of Women Rochelle Squires announced on Thursday..“Thanks to this innovative partnership, we are progressing towards destigmatizing the nature of getting your period by supporting young women and girls when they need it most,” said Squires. .“This significant shift will ensure thousands of students and others most in need will have reliable and consistent access to menstrual products wherever they live in our province.”. Passing a pad .The agreement with SDM puts menstrual products into schools, domestic violence shelters, resource centres, and specialized programs to be distributed to those most in need..“Students in Manitoba deserve to feel comfortable going to school knowing they have access to free menstrual products when they need it, without barriers or stigma,” said Ewasko. .“This agreement will help build more inclusive learning environments for people who menstruate across the province and is expected to lead to positive impacts on student engagement and well-being.”.Each year, for the next three years, SDM will donate 3.3 million menstrual products as part of the partnership..The Manitoba government will distribute the products each month. However, the school divisions and schools decide where to send the products to help those most in need..“Inequitable access to period products, particularly for students, can lead to missed opportunities … school, work, and other activities … and creates barriers to success,” said Jeff Leger, SDM president..“This donation will provide students in Manitoba with free access to period products, helping to more fully unlock their potential. We are proud to be a part of this initiative, and grateful to our stores, to Procter and Gamble, and to our customers for their support.”
