Why these women are offering 'period pouches' to young Islanders in need

Two Island women are offering free "period pouches" filled with feminine hygiene products to Islandersas the school year gets underway.

The pouches also haveinstructions on how to use the productsand how to dispose of them properly.

Pouches range from the size of a pencil caseto a small bag, and are designed to be discreetly put into a backpack.

Megan Beairsto and Kassidy Arsenault, the pair behind the idea, said they originallyintendedit to be part of the parent's back to school shopping list.

"It was just something that they could shove in their backpack really quick and if they need it, then it's there. And if they don't, then they can save it till next year or have it in case one of their friends needs it," said Beairsto.

The pair run a Facebook page, No Questions AskedPeriod, that collects donations of feminine hygiene products and distributes them to those in need anonymously.

Arsenault and Beairstoposted about the pouches and said the response to the project was "tremendous."

"I think I gave out about 50 total on Friday of last week and that was my first drop-off day," said Beairsto.

"I've distributed about 25 so far," Arsenault said.

The pouches are beingpicked up by parents or relatives of the children, said Beairsto.

Not every kid has a pair ofparents, or parents that are comfortable with even having the conversation with them. Megan Beairsto

"If it happens, if they get their first period at school, they just want to make sure that that's an easy day for them," she said.

They saidsome teachers in schools around Summerside and Kensington have asked for pouches that they can keep in the classroom, just in case they have a student that needs one.

"Which is amazing, because they would know what kids might struggle with this and which ones wouldn't so much,"Beairstosaid.

Increasing access

The pouches are intended to increase the accessibility of feminine hygiene products for Islanders who may face barriers in getting them.

"We have a lot of families that contact us that can't afford menstrual products every month," said Beairsto.

I don't see it stopping anytime soon. Megan Beairsto

"Hearing stories from parents and young women, especially single mothers, who struggle to afford menstrual products every single month and knowing that's actually a problem," said Arsenault.

The pair said they recognized how fortunate they havebeen in their own lives and that had an influence intheir decision to offer the pouches.

"We've never been without and we've had parents that are super honest and open about what was happening with our bodies," Beairsto said.

"For us it was the realization of, we've had it so good, and we're so lucky, and we need to make sure that other people are having that experience as well."

The pouches are also for parents who might not be comfortable discussing menstruation with their children.

"Not every kid has a pair ofparents, or parents that are comfortable with even having the conversation with them about what's going to happen to their body and that's unfortunate, but it's the reality that we live in," she said.

Continue into the future

Beairsto and Arsenault said initially they intended tohandout the pouches during the back to school season. But, with the overwhelming response they decidedto continue offering the pouches.

"We've had a tremendous amount of donations ... we have enough donations now we can continue this for the entire school year," said Beairsto.

"I don't see it stopping anytime soon."

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