A grassroots movement advocating for the elimination of local period poverty celebrated its 7th year Sunday, March 8. Meanwhile, local Rotarians joined together in Wellington on March 17th to create 100 reusable menstruation kits for young girls in the Dominican Republic.

At home or abroad, ending period poverty and ensuring universal access to menstrual products, safe sanitation, and education to break the stigma is collecting momentum.

Throwing a Period Party

Following a week-long menstrual product drive at Kelly’s Shop on Main Street and special events hosted by Midtown Brewing Company and County Creative, the community gathered at the Regent Theatre to celebrate menstrual health. Over $6,000 worth of menstrual products were collected. More than 140 community members of all ages and genders took part.

The PEC Period Party is a community project that raises awareness on local period poverty, fundraises for essential hygiene products and creates a safe space for menstruating people to normalize talking about menstrual health.

To date, the PEC Period Party initiative has collected close to $30,000 in menstrual products.

They’ve also raised over $6,000 that’s been reinvested into essential products and educational resources.

2026 Product Recipients include theROC Youth Services, PELC, PEC Fresh Good Food Market, Picton Library Community Pantry, Wellington Storehouse Foodbank, Belleville Bridge Street United Church, Athol South Marysburgh and Kente Public Schools, PECI, Nicholson Catholic College, local doctors offices, women’s clinics, etc.

“The continued success of this project shows just how ready our community is to have open and honest conversations about menstrual health,” said PEC Period Project organizer Alison Kelly. “I hope that in the future, local politicians will respond to our invitation and show up in these spaces. Leadership means being willing to listen, learn, and treat menstrual health with the seriousness and dignity it deserves.”

Sunday’s free, family-friendly event centered around a screening of ‘Are You There God It’s Me Margaret,’ which featured a period kit making station with Ramona Roblin, a craft table hosted by Reaching for Rainbows, Margaret’s Mocktail Bar with Shannon, henna offered by Lily Gold, and a retro-style photo booth by Becky Hinch Photography.

To treat attendees, Half Kanga donated over 100 mini cakes. 

This event was free to all thanks to support from Picton BIA, The County Community Action Projects, and Becky Hinch Photography.

Local/Golbal

On March 17th the Rotary Clubs of Wellington and Picton united to help alleviate Period Poverty in a developing nation by making reusable menstruation kits for young girls in the Batey villages in rural areas around Consuelo, Dominican Republic.

Rotary Club of Picton member Rick Jones explained Bateyes are communities of predominately Haitian migrants who work as sugarcane workers. Families migrated to Dominican Republic with hopes for a better life, but were stripped of their legal documents. These village communities often experience extreme poverty, limited infrastructure, and poor access to water, electricity, and education.

“Our hope is to create 100 reusable menstrual kits which will serve approximately five schools.
They will be distributed as part of the Rotary International’s ‘Sew Girls Can Go To School’ project,” he said.

Mr. Jones said it takes 1,200 circle liners made from flannel and 200 shields to make 100 kits. Each kit comes in a drawstring bag- either made or donated with a plastic Ziplock bag for soiled liners, washing soap, hand soap, a washcloth that the youth can dampen to use as often there is not water in the latrines, a dozen liners, two shields and two pairs of underwear.