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Health

Sanitary protection when money is tight

(106 Posts)
ninathenana Sat 01-Jul-17 12:29:09

A dilema indeed as you say this help shouldn't be just for food bank users. However, that would be a start. Would it be feasable to bag up feminine hygiene products along with deodrants etc. and let those with vouchers help themselves to a nondiscript bag to add to their food box.
Maybe pharmacies could be a collection point for those not using food banks. Who would issue the vouchers though ?
A very worthy cause, good luck with finding a solution.

pensionpat Sat 01-Jul-17 12:27:01

Thank you Moira. Yes we ask questions and some of them seem random, such as do you have a pet? a baby? This is because we have occasional donations of pet and baby food, or disposable nappies. We could easily ask about sanitary protection and shall. I think it is a wider problem, and would appreciate ideas to extend this to women who don't fall into the Food bank category.

ninny Sat 01-Jul-17 12:25:43

£1.75 20 super Tampax in Asda surely any mother would make sure they bought their daughter some and go without themselves, don't believe it. I would say it was neglect.

GrandmaMoira Sat 01-Jul-17 12:11:29

Do food banks ask any questions of their clients? Questions must be asked when clients are referred. Couldn't the referral have a question about whether the client/client's family would need sanitary wear? It might be embarrassing, but it's less embarrassing than being without it when needed.
I use "Tena lady" protection and many older women need this. Seeing the people evacuated from tower blocks without anything, sleeping in community centres, I think how I manage without pads and a nearby toilet if I was there.

gillybob Sat 01-Jul-17 12:01:29

My WI help a local women's refuge and food bank . We are always encouraged to donate tampons, towels and liners together with basic personal hygenie items ( roll on deodorants, soap, wipes etc). It's easy to forget that when money is very tight these things might be what you would try and go without . Terribly sad in this day and age isn't it?

pensionpat Sat 01-Jul-17 11:55:44

At Food Bank yesterday we were discussing the difficulties in affording sanitary wear. Apparently some girls miss school regularly every month, and there has been a death due to a girl leaving in her tampon and having toxic shock syndrome.

We shall appeal for donations, but can't think of the best way to distribute them. One volunteer has talked to local schools, but they have refused to be part of the solution. Understandable since their resources are spread thinly. I'm sure this might be the case in GP surgeries too.

A suggestion was made to ask voucher holders if they would like some supplies to be included with their food, but this is restricting the help to Food Bank clients. Plus the old argument of potential embarrassment to either client or volunteer.

Have any of you tackled this issue or have any ideas?