PEC Period Party

Student leads fundraiser for menstrual products

The term “period poverty” is one that not many people are familiar with, and if nine-year-old Ramona Roblin gets her wish it will be a term that sinks into oblivion. The term refers to the unaffordability or unavailability of menstrual products for those who need them, particularly those who are homeless, those who may rely on foodbanks, and those in elementary school who are experiencing puberty. Ramona had been thinking about a speech that she was going to give to her classmates and wanted it to illuminate a problem faced by the community at large. She had noticed some of her fellow schoolmates were misinformed about the physical changes to their bodies at the onset of puberty and why it was happening. So she decided to write about period poverty, both to say that these changes are a normal part of growing up and to call for menstrual products to be available in elementary school for those who might need them. Ramona then reached out to school trustee Alison Kelly to see how she could bring her message to the wider community. “We brainstormed and we came up with the idea of a month-long product donation within the community, and Ramona really wanted to do a workshop or event that people could come to so they could be educated,” said Kelly. This dovetailed neatly with the PEC Period Party, which was held at 555 Brewing Company in Picton on Sunday, March 6.

(L-R): Nine-year-old Ramona Roblin and Alison Kelly point to the array of donated menstrual products in the window of Kelly’s in Picton.

This event had been held annually, but was shelved for the past two years due to the COVID- 19 pandemic. In previous years, the event was a fundraiser or donation point for menstrual products, which were then provided to the local foodbanks for distribution. This year, the needs of elementary school students were also addressed. “Historically we’ve gone to 555 [Brewing] and we ask to bring a donation and we just hang out and have fun and watch movies. We want to create a space where people feel comfortable, where they can ask questions and share their stories,” said Kelly. “We had Joanna Howard, who is a doula and sex educator, and we asked Ramona to do her speech. Moira Gaddes, who is a student school board trustee, was also there. She’s a teenager and is accessible and can talk to younger participants.” There were games and door prizes, and many of the approximately 50 people attending donated either product or cash. For the past several weeks people have been making donations at 555 Brewing, Midtown Brewing and at Kelly’s in Picton, where the front window was filled with donated products. Ramona had set a goal of $1,500 and she exceeded that, collecting over $2,000. In addition over $10,000 worth of menstrual products were donated. The donated products will be distributed across County schools, the Prince Edward Learning Centre, PEC libraries, the ROC and Loyalist College. In addition, some of the products have been sent to a sister organization in Ottawa. The money will be used to install two no-charge vending machines for menstrual products in the washrooms at PECI. There is currently a pilot project from the provincial government to provide menstrual products in high schools, but that is only for a three-year term. Both Ramona and Kelly want to see this extended. They will also be making a deposition to council in April, asking for nocharge vending machines to be installed in all County washrooms, as a way to address period poverty for the homeless or for those who find the products unaffordable.

Donations came from local businesses, passersby and from out of County as the word spread on social media. “It’s all been very helpful. We thank everyone for donating,” said Ramona. “We love everyone that’s donating. If you donate you are a ‘period warrior’ and you can join our club.” For more information, please visit pecperiodparty on Instagram.