The 6th installment of the Ottawa Police Purse Project has partnered with Shopper’s Drug Mart and Citron Hygiene and donations of personal hygiene products for women and men are being collected. “Hygiene products are a monthly expense that some women in our community can’t afford,” said Ottawa Police Cst. Dawn Neilly, the organizer of the project.
“We’re asking for people to give sanitary and hygiene products like pads, tampons, soap, toothpaste, deodorant and shampoo. Products for men are also welcomed.” The collection of personal hygiene products was introduced in 2016 as the ‘Purse Project’ and resulted in over 8000 purses filled with necessities that were donated to women living at local area shelters.
In 2019, the OPS emphasized the products without the purses, calling it the “Re-fill Project”. “In our first campaign, the purses were a discreet way to deliver the products to women in need,” said co-organizer Cst. Stephanie Lemieux. “Even though we kept the name and are so grateful for the community support, we no longer need purses and really want to focus on the products themselves. We are asking that donators do not put products in purses this year.” This is partly because of public safety measures when it comes to sanitizing purses.
Donations from the Stittsville area will be accepted until December 12th and can be dropped off at the Ottawa Police Station at 211 Huntmar Drive between 8:30am and 4:30pm. All items collected will be delivered by OPS to local area shelters including, but not limited to the Minwaashin Lodge, Youth Services Bureau, Nelson House and Cornerstone Housing.