A pilot program, through which the city distributes free menstrual products, has been deemed a success and will be expanded.
Statistics presented to the emergency and community services committee show more than 16,000 products were distributed last year at five participating recreation centres and another 34,000 products through the city’s food banks.
In response, the program will now be expanded to include all Hamilton recreation centres, city hall and municipal service centres.
Hamilton Food Share’s Joanne Santucci applauds the move.
“It was quite controversial when it was thought up”, said Santucci. “Now this product has become an absolute staple in the emergency food network.”
The pilot program was approved by council in early 2020 with a budget of about $120,000, but implementation was delayed until last year due to the global pandemic
Councillors also backed a motion, presented by Ward 1’s Maureen Wilson, to examine the cost of offering a wider selection of products through the program.
“Having a product is one thing, having a product that works is completely something else,” said Wilson. “People who menstruate, our bodies are different.”