Ottawa ‘Purse Project’ returns to provide women in need with hygiene products

The Ottawa Police Service (OPS) is asking for the public’s help in gathering personal hygiene products for those who can’t afford them in local communities.

The service has once again teamed up with Shoppers Drug Mart and Citron Hygiene for the ‘Purse Project,’ to collect purses and bags full of items like pads, tampons, soap, shampoo, toothbrushes, new underwear, socks, hats and mittens.

Also, in addition to sanitary and hygiene products for women, shaving products for men are also welcomed.

“Hygiene products are an expense that some women in our community simply can’t afford,” said Cst. Dawn Neilly, co-organizer of 8th installment of the Purse Project. “With a sharp increase in the cost for goods this year, more women are struggling.”

There are several locations where people can drop off purses, bags and hygiene products between Saturday, Nov. 25 and Sunday, Dec. 10:

• The OPS will accept donations at 211 Huntmar Drive, 3343 St. Joseph Boulevard and 474 Elgin Street during hours of operation
• Shoppers Drug Mart locations: 174 Bank Street, 702 Bank Street, 1080 Bank Street/Sunnyside, 181 Greenbank Road and 3781 Stranherd Drive
• The Citron Hygiene warehouse located at 150-2855 Swansea Crescent is also a drop-off location between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. from Monday to Friday

All collected items will be delivered by OPS to local area shelters including, but not limited to, Youville Centre, St Joe’s Women’s Centre, Emily Murphy Non-Profit Housing Corporation and la Maison d’amitié.

The collection of personal hygiene products was introduced in 2016 as the ‘Purse Project’ and resulted in over 8,000 purses filled with necessities that have been donated to women living at local shelters over the past years.