Local residents turned out in droves Saturday to help United Way Greater Victoria fill a bus with menstrual products to help change the reality for the reported one-quarter of Canadian women who say they have struggled to afford menstrual products for themselves or their children.

The second annual “Fill the Bus” event collected 66,646 individual pads, tampons, diva cups and other menstrual products – more than twice as many as the inaugural event.

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That means that approximately 2,600 women and youth will have their basic hygiene needs covered for one month

“Periods are a fact of life, and monthly menstrual products are a necessity but many people can’t afford them,” said Jennifer Young, director of marketing and communications, United Way Greater Victoria. “Nobody should have to pick between feeding their family and affording basic hygiene products.”

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Products collected will be distributed to United Way-funded agencies this week in the lead up to International Women’s Day.

This product collection drive was supported by the United Way Greater Victoria Labour Committee, BC Transit, Hillside Centre, the Victoria Labour Council and United Way Greater Victoria.