Philanthropic teen seeks local business partners to help end period poverty
Jada Malott,18, of Windsor has launched a new social enterprise called “Period Product Partner” (PPP).
“The whole purpose is to get free menstrual products into private businesses,” said Malott who has purchased 50 dispensers for tampons and pads.
Each one costs $270 plus tax and PPP will stock the dispenser for free, for an entire year.
“That price is what we paid (for each dispenser),” Malott said. “We're not making any penny off of the purchase of a dispenser. It's not a get-rich-quick scheme for us.”
Malott, who has been part of the successful Tampon Tuesday initiative, said she started PPP as a legacy project for her grandmother, who passed away in October 2021.
“She experienced a tremendous amount of poverty,” Malott wrote in a news release about what “motivated” her to launch PPP.
“A story that she shared with us once about how she often sacrificed period products to feed her two children broke our hearts.”
Malott tells CTV News her grandmother was forced to use paper towel, pieces of clothing, and even a sock instead of menstrual products.
“Every single person has the right to have dignity and health,” Malott said. “And I don't understand where people are still struggling to access these products. So it just made sense to me to do this (launch PPP).
The dispensers and products are being stored inside the warehouse of Holland Cleaning Solutions in Windsor, owned by Mike Shalhoub.
“I didn't really think of the fact that kids don't go to school because they don't have feminine hygiene products,” said Shalhoub, who offered to help after hearing Malott on AM800 on Tampon Tuesday.
“To miss a day of school is sort of unfathomable. I didn't really realize that actually went on. So, you know, we're more than happy to help in whatever way we can.”
PPP launched in late April and Malott told CTV News she’s “surprised” at how few businesses have reached out to be a partner. Malott suspects they’re concerned about the dispensers being vandalized or someone will take all of the stock.
“It's just menstrual products. It's not like there's 100 bucks in here,” Malott said. “They are menstrual products, therefore an emergency. And women and menstruators understand that, so they're not going to get ransacked.”
Malott said they have an agreement with local carpenters to have the dispensers installed free of charge. Carpenters in the region are currently on strike, so Malott admits there could be a delay in getting the dispensers mounted.
To date, just 15 businesses have agreed to partner with PPP.
Malott believes many business owners are still unaware of the need and are shying away from the initiative because talking about periods is still taboo.
“The biggest and hardest hurdle of ending period poverty is going to be getting over that stigma,” said Malott.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NDP motion regarding Palestinian statehood passes after major Liberal alterations
A motion from the federal New Democrats initially calling on Canada to recognize the 'State of Palestine' passed amid widespread acrimony on Monday, after the Liberals drastically altered its wording to see the government simply work towards that aim as part of a two-state solution.
'He didn't want to die': Family of Calgary man killed in standoff speaks out
Family of a Calgary man killed after a 30-hour standoff with police last week are speaking out, sharing details of the tense and heart-wrenching experience.
Toronto family doctor who called patient's body 'perfect' suspended for 3 months: tribunal
A family doctor in Toronto has been suspended for three months after a disciplinary tribunal found that he failed to follow proper protocols while examining a patient's breasts and made inappropriate comments about her body.
Ohio mom who left toddler alone 10 days when she went on vacation pleads guilty to aggravated murder
An Ohio mother whose 16-month-old daughter died after being left home alone in a playpen for 10 days last summer while she went on vacation was sentenced Monday to life in prison with no chance of parole.
Retired teacher pleads guilty to paying for sex with 15-year-old in Collingwood, Ont.
In a Barrie courtroom on Monday, a retired high school teacher from the Niagara Region pleaded guilty to sexual touching and obtaining sexual services from a 15-year-old boy in Collingwood in 2021.
Hertz CEO out following electric car 'horror show'
The company, which announced in January it was selling 20,000 of the electric vehicles in its fleet, or about a third of the EVs it owned, is now replacing the CEO who helped build up that fleet, giving it the company’s fifth boss in just four years.
5 charged in Calgary kidnappings that targeted women
Calgary police have charged five men in a pair of kidnappings last year that targeted innocent victims.
Demand soars for solar eclipse glasses in Canada. Are they worth buying?
The demand for total solar eclipse glasses used to safely view the rare celestial event has been ramping up as sellers, along with astronomy and eye-care experts in Canada, warn that viewing the eclipse with the naked eye is dangerous.
Canadian commander of volunteer fighter group dies in Ukraine
A Canadian-born commander of the so-called Norman Brigade, a volunteer fighting group in Ukraine, has died.