Sanitary pads drive closes in on target
Dis-Chem customer, Zandile Mhlongo, was one of the first to donate to the Million Comforts campaign, which is being driven by the Daily News and Dis-Chem. The campaign aims to collect a million sanitary pads for girls, to give them freedom to stay in school. Collection bins are in all Dis-Chem stores. Picture: Gcina Ndwalane Dis-Chem customer, Zandile Mhlongo, was one of the first to donate to the Million Comforts campaign, which is being driven by the Daily News and Dis-Chem. The campaign aims to collect a million sanitary pads for girls, to give them freedom to stay in school. Collection bins are in all Dis-Chem stores. Picture: Gcina Ndwalane
Independent Media’s #MillionComforts collection drive has brought in a total of 2 457 485 sanitary pads, and 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 has been driving the collection for the second year running in titles around the country – 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 13 000 girls remain in school for a year.
The 2016 sanitary pads will also be distributed to underprivileged girls through Imbumba foundation’s Caring4Girls, which has already benefitted 275 000 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.
Donate a pack of pads for just R9.95 at Dis-Chem and place it in the purple branded bins.