The organizer of Sarnia-Lambton's successful Tampon Tuesday initiative is thrilled with the province's decision to make free menstrual products available at schools.
The announcement was made on Friday in partnership with Shoppers Drug Mart.
The deal will see six million menstrual products delivered to school boards each year for the next three years.
Michelle Parks said one in five girls experience 'period poverty', and aren't able to access the necessary items.
"This helps immensely to ensure that every person gets a great education," said Parks. "A period lasts for up to seven days so, if someone is having to miss school for seven days a month, that affects their grades and education ultimately."
She said they'll continue to collect free tampons and pads, but now they'll be able to shift their focus to the broader community.
"We've collected almost 5,500 products since our inception in May of 2019. We have been supplying menstrual products to the local schools in Sarnia-Lambton and now we'll be able to focus more on organizations around our community that need them."
Parks said products are usually taken to the Inn of the Good Shepherd and distributed from there.
She said they've been forced to scale back their monthly collections due to COVID-19, but said residents can still donate by contacting the Tampon Tuesday Facebook page.
Parks is calling on other workplaces and organizations to offer free products, noting city hall and Lambton College have done great work.
Throughout November, Shoppers Drug Mart will be discounting menstrual products to be donated to Tampon Tuesday.