Additional funding allocated by Women and
Gender Equality Canada and Food Banks Canada to extend the reach of
the Menstrual Equity Fund pilot project in the North
TORONTO, May 15, 2024
/CNW/ - Moon Time Connections, a flagship project of True North
Aid, is proud to announce it will be distributing $2.4 million worth of menstrual products to
northern Indigenous Communities from coast to coast to coast thanks
to Food Banks Canada and the Menstrual Equity Fund pilot project
funded by Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE).
In September 2023, WAGE announced
Food Banks Canada received $17.9
million to run a national pilot to address barriers to
menstrual equity with two objectives: to test a national approach
to distributing free menstrual products to diverse low-income
populations across Canada; and to
increase education and awareness of menstrual products, good
practices and period stigma.
Based on the early success of the pilot, WAGE is providing up to
$5 million in supplemental funding
for Food Banks Canada to enhance the impact of the Menstrual Equity
Fund pilot project.
Recognizing Moon Time Connections' deep relationship with
northern Community, Food Banks Canada engaged Moon Time Connections
to further extend the pilot to more northern communities. From that
supplemental funding provided to Food Banks Canada, $2.4 million goes to supporting Moon Time
Connections in reaching more northern menstruators.
"Menstrual equity isn't just a matter of affordability; it's a
fundamental right. In Northern and rural parts of the country,
access to menstrual products can be costly and limited.
Accessibility to health care services should not be determined by
who you are or where you live. Menstrual equity is working to
ensure that Indigenous communities have the necessities to live
with dignity, equality, and proper health care." The Honourable
Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth
"The opportunity to expand the pilot program to reach additional
northern and remote Indigenous communities was a priority for both
Food Banks Canada and WAGE, so working further with the incredible
team at Moon Time Connections to make that happen was an
opportunity we were thrilled to be able to make possible," shared
Chris Ferraz, Chief Administrative
Officer, Food Banks Canada.
This $2.4 million of funding,
through the Menstrual Equity Fund pilot project, was allocated by
Food Banks Canada to purchase millions of additional period
products to reach rural and remote Indigenous communities. With
additional funding to support Moon Time
Connections' work, these products will reach more than
160 Indigenous Communities, and upwards of 100,000 more northern
menstruators. Additional outreach is already underway to
further expand the impact of the pilot and reach new
Communities.
Since January 1 of this year, MTC
has already received over 90 new requests for products from
Communities across the country; nearly half of the total number of
requests received in 2022 and 2023 combined. There is a massive and
growing need for this support.
"We're incredibly grateful to Food Banks Canada and Women and
Gender Equality Canada for allocating additional funding to ensure
the pilot is reaching remote and northern Indigenous menstruators,"
said Nicole White, founder of Moon
Time Connections. "Equipping Moon Time Connections to manage
distribution to Community represents a pivotal step forward in
decolonizing menstrual equity."
Food Banks Canada selected six incredible Canadian organizations
to purchase a variety of menstrual products for Moon Time
Connections to distribute in the North: Joni (certified
organic, sustainable and biodegradable pads and tampons),
Aisle (eco-friendly and inclusive period underwear and cloth
pads) , Only (ethically sourced organic cotton pads and
tampons), Knix (period underwear trailblazers),
Marlow (100% organic tampons with plant-based applicators)
and Öko (hemp and organic cotton cloth pads).
Moon Time Connections working alongside Food Banks Canada to
oversee distribution to the North demonstrates an increased level
of institutional understanding around the unique needs of and
barriers being faced by northern Indigenous menstruators. It's an
acknowledgment of the vital importance of engaging Indigenous-led
groups like Moon Time Connections who are working collaboratively
with Community across the North to ensure their needs are being met
and respected, and they continue to be a part of the menstrual
equity conversation in this country.
About Moon Time Connections
Moon Time Connections
(formerly Moon Time Sisters) is a flagship project of True North
Aid, and is Canada's only national
Indigenous-led period equity organization. MTC began its work
supplying 1 school board and 1 Community with pads and tampons. As
of today, Moon Time Connections is a national organization
supplying a full spectrum of period products and vital menstrual
education to more than 160 Indigenous Communities in all 3
territories and 7 provinces of Canada. MTC has shipped over 4 million
menstrual products to Indigenous menstruators from coast to coast
to coast since 2017.
SOURCE True North Aid