Pad It ForwardTM
Period inequity both silences and sidelines.
Program overview
Launched in 2025, Pad it Forward is a national program to advance menstrual equity through local in-store donation drives. It harnesses the reach of the Shoppers Drug Mart® and PharmaprixMD network to help collect tampons, pads, menstrual cups, and period underwear in support of local organizations like women’s shelters and community food banks.
This is a particularly important need in at risk or under-supported communities. It’s why we partner with organizations like Moon Time Connections (MTC), a national Indigenous-led period equity group that strives to increase access to menstrual products and provide menstrual education. Since 2017, MTC has shipped over 4 million menstrual products to Indigenous menstruators from coast to coast-to-coast.
3 in 4 women
aged 18-24 hide their periods in school and workplace environments.
*Plan International Canada - Period poverty in plain sight (2023)
$500,000
delivered over 2 years to accelerate outreach and education programs in northern and remote communities in partnership with Moon Time Connections.
An expanding service network
to make period care more equitable and accessible across communities in Canada.
Menstrual products are essential but often overlooked and sometimes difficult to access in under-represented communities
NeighbourLink Parkland, a local charity funneling resources to needful individuals in our community, was the beneficiary of our store’s Pad It Forward initiative. We were excited and proud to have played a part in supporting access to menstrual products—items that are essential but often overlooked and unaffordable for many. We know that this program has already made a real difference to the women in our community circle to meet basic needs without the added stress. This has been a great opportunity to shine a light on the importance of menstrual equity and together we’re proving that small acts of generosity can create meaningful change.”
Our programs
Health Research
Although women make up half of the population, a true understanding of their health is incomplete due to a legacy of inequity when it comes to women’s health research.
Supporting all women
As part of our commitment, we recognize that the term “women’s health” is understood in a variety of ways. Our work goes beyond the sex and gender binary, welcoming the experiences of all women and gender-diverse people.