ELORA – The Grandway Events Centre was buzzing with chatter on March 7, as members of the public, organization leaders and community representatives gathered for the GrandWay International Women’s Day lunch.
Guests were treated to an extensive buffet menu as well as words from guest speakers Mandi Fields, founder of Tampon Tuesday, and Anneke Donkers-Stickney, from Egg Farmers Ontario.
“Today we come together to celebrate everyone in this room,” said Donkers-Stickney. “All of our coworkers, friends and every woman internationally.”
This year’s theme was “moving forward,” which held significance for both speakers, as they opened up about facing past addictions and mental health struggles.
“Like many here today I have struggled with my mental health,” said Donkers-Stickney.
“I am proudly six years and four months sober,” said Fields.
Tampon Tuesday is an initiative that works to bring feminine hygiene products to women and girls facing poverty.
The program began in 2009 and has since expanded across Ontario and parts of Canada.
“The face of poverty is female,” said Fields, who opened up about her own experience with poverty as she lost her mother at 17 and became the guardian of her 13-year-old brother.
“I know what I missed out on, I know I used to steal tampons and pads out of my friend’s bathroom,” said Fields.
She opened up about asking her friend for a pad at a sleepover, where she was asked why she never seemed to have one.
“When you’re 15, 16, 17 you don’t know how to say you’re poor,” she said.
Fields told the crowd her experience inspired her to start Tampon Tuesday, which she proudly shared her daughter, who lives in New York, is expanding in that city.
Jackie Andrews from the Centre Wellington Foodbank also shared a few words.
“Last month, 120 single women used our food bank,” said Andrews.
“Sixty-five of them were under the age of 65, 15 were over 65 and another 46 were single mothers.”
Fields and Andrews highlighted the growing need for feminine hygiene products at local food banks and asked that those in the room spread the word and look beyond canned goods the next time they donate to the food bank.
