During the month of March, United Way SDG accepted donations of menstrual hygiene products at various locations in Stormont, Dundas, Glengarry, Cornwall and Akwesasne.
On March 28th, United Way, with the help of Cornwall Transit, held their third annual ‘Stuff the Bus’ event. A Cornwall Transit bus was parked next to the Shoppers Drug Mart on Brookdale from 8am to 4pm, accepting donations of products and cash or tap donations.
While they predicted at the time that monetary donation would closely match 2022 levels, the team said there were definitely more donations of product this year than ever before.
“The challenge was there to stuff a bigger bus and I think people enjoyed that challenge,” Executive Director, Juliette Labossière, shared when asked about the campaign’s success in 2023.
“Just people knowing that they could donate in their communities and that it was going back into their communities, I think that’s an important piece of that puzzle,” Labossière added, “Knowing that, if you’re going to donate in South Dundas, it’s not going to come to Cornwall and stay in Cornwall. It’s going to end up coming back to an organization that’s out there working with your neighbours.”
This year’s Tampon Tuesday campaign had over 20 pick-up locations, some run publicly through partnerships with United Way, others privately within local businesses and organizations.
“The thing that we’re thankful for is that there was an increased number of product donations during a year where the cost of living is even much more than last year. It was nice to see generosity even during hard times,” said Stephanie Lapointe, Campaign & Communication Coordinator for United Way SDG.
