First Quality partners with Moisson Montréal to combat period poverty
Through local partnerships, the company has donated over one million menstrual care products to help address period poverty in Montréal, supporting community organizations like Monthly Dignity
Menstrual care remains a necessity for women worldwide, yet approximately 500 million people globally lack access to period products and adequate menstrual hygiene facilities, according to the World Bank. This widespread issue, known as period poverty, is often worsened by a lack of education and persistent stigmas surrounding menstruation.
First Quality®, the manufacturer behind Incognito® pads and liners, has been addressing period poverty at the local level through partnerships. Since 2019, the company has donated over one million menstrual care products to Moisson Montréal, Canada’s largest foodbank, which also provides essential personal care items to community organizations throughout the city.
One of these organizations is Monthly Dignity, which works to mitigate the effects of period poverty in Montréal by distributing free menstrual products while also promoting education and advocacy.
“By working together, it really allows us to get more donations and to target many more beneficiaries on a large scale in Montréal”, said Carolanne Cyr, business development representative with Moisson Montréal.
The menstrual products donated by First Quality are produced at the company’s Fempro facility in Drummondville, Quebec, and shipped directly to Moisson Montréal. There, the products are repacked into smaller, more manageable quantities for redistribution to organizations like Monthly Dignity. These products are then distributed to youth programs, women’s shelters, and other community groups in need.
“Everybody needs to feel comfortable functioning in their daily lives, with their basic needs met”, said Hayley Newman-Petryshen, co-director at Monthly Dignity. “Being able to offer a product of good quality, that is safe, to people who are already in many instances feeling unsafe, that’s huge”.
For First Quality, these efforts reflect the company’s commitment to improving lives through the provision of essential products.
“We believe that everyone deserves access to high-quality, everyday essentials”, said Raphaelle Fleury, category marketing manager at First Quality. “Period poverty is something that affects people around the world every day, and we’re grateful to Moisson Montréal and Monthly Dignity for working to increase access to products and education here in Canada”.
