United Way Maritimes is launching Menstrual May in 2025, and we need your help! Whether you’re a business or an individual, there are many ways that you can alleviate period poverty in our community.
Period Poverty Hundreds of women, girls, non-binary, and transgender individuals in our community experience period poverty. This means they don’t have access to the menstrual products they need because of the cost, where they live, or other social barriers. As a result, people might miss school, work, or social activities. In some cases, they could even be forced to use toilet paper instead of pads or tampons. Period poverty can take a toll on a person over time and lead to embarrassment.
Menstrual May
Menstrual May is a menstrual product collection effort presented by United Way Maritimes, Kay’s Wholesale, Bell Aliant Centre, Boys and Girls Club Prince County and the Charlottetown and Summerside Public Libraries. We’re asking businesses and individuals in our network to collect and donate as many menstrual products as possible and drop them off at the locations below. Once the drive is complete, teams of volunteers will deliver the menstrual products to United Way donor-funded agencies and community organizations serving individuals who menstruate.
Donations will be accepted at the following locations between May 6 – 26, 2025:
- Kay’s Wholesale - 167 Minna Jane Dr., Charlottetown, PE C1E 2L9 - Bell Aliant Centre (560 University Ave. Charlottetown, PE C1A 0G9) - Boys and Girls Club Prince County (106 Cedar St., Summerside, PE C1N 3P7) - Charlottetown Library (Dominion Building, 97 Queen Street, Charlottetown, PE C1A 4A9) - Summerside Library (57 Central Street, Summerside, PE C1N 3K9)
What individuals can do to help
1) Organize a drive – Whether it’s with friends, family or co-workers, every donation counts! Please be sure to drop your collected items off at one of our designated locations by May 26. 2) Spread the word – Share our posts on your social media and encourage people to get involved by word-of-mouth. 3) Get your boss onboard – Ask your employer to organize a drive or make menstrual products available free of charge in their bathrooms
What businesses can do to help
1) Organize a drive – rally your staff members and motivate them to help us address this serious issue for women and gender-diverse individuals in our community.
2) Host an event to engage your workplace team or provide a prize for the staff member who collects the most products!
3) Make menstrual products available in the bathroom of your organization free of charge – you never know who might need them.
Assets
Here are some assets to help you launch your drive!
Poster with local drop-off info
Thank you!
We’re so grateful for the support that we’ve seen from the community on this initiative year over year and thank you to everyone getting onboard in 2025! Thanks to your generosity, fewer Islanders will be forced to choose between buying the menstrual products they need, or paying for other necessities like food, medication or transportation. Every box of pads, tampons, diva cups or wipes makes a difference!
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