Independent Media’s #MillionComfort collection drive has brought in a total of 2.457.485 sanitary pads.
The campaign is well on track to reach the projected 3 million total by the end of July.
In partnership with Dis-Chem and the Dis-chem foundation, Independent Media has been driving the collection for the second year running and the response has been overwhelming.
Enormous amounts of sanitary towels have been pouring in from readers and shoppers at the 100 Dis-Chem stores countrywide in the four weeks since the campaign launched on June 15.
“The readers of Independent Media publications have historically been eager to respond when we call on them to assist with our campaigns. The Million Comforts is no different and we applaud the generosity of those who have donated,”said Barbara McGorian, marketing manager for Gauteng.
In 2015, Sanitary towels amassed in the inaugural Million Comforts campaign were handed by Caring4Girls to schools in KZN, Gauteng, Mpumalanga and the Western Cape, helping over 13000 girls remain in school for a year.
(Independent staff, Sarene Kloren and Annette de Wet contributing to the campaign)
The 2016 sanitary pads will also be distributed to underprivileged girls through Imbumba foundation’s Caring4Girls, which has already benefitted 275000 in a sustainable way, with on-going support.
The organisation hands out menstrual hygiene products to school girls aged 12 – 18 who normally wouldn’t be able to afford the packs.
Futhi Mthethwa (corr), Life Orientation teacher at Winile Secondary school in Zonkizizwe, Katlehong, said the Caring4Girls hand-out had been well-received at her school.
“The girls really need the pads and they are very happy and excited to be getting them. Over 800 schoolgirls received packages to last them 4 months and caring4Girls said they will be back with more.” She said many girls simply don’t attend school when they are having their period and make up any excuse when they return. “Many of the girls are embarrassed and frustrated when boys joke about it, and that’s why they decide not to come to class.”
Mthethwa added that many of the pupils are from child-headed households and can’t access the social grants so buying any form of toiletry is difficult. “Not having access to the products really affects them.
Caring4girls also gives the girls education on menstrual hygiene.
Donate a pack of pads for just R9,95 at Dis-Chem and place it in the Purple branded #Million Comforts bins.