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Menstrual Mixer aids local women, girls while highlighting businesses

Created by local realtors Melissa Bachmann and Christine Rice, admission to monthly business networking event is a box of pads or tampons

For some women and girls, getting feminine hygiene products can be a challenge.

So with that in mind, two Midland-based realtors have created a monthly networking event that helps businesses become better known in the community while also collecting much-needed tampons and pads for community organizations.

Called the Mentrual Mixer, the first event hosted by the Bachmann Rice Team in November proved to be a great success while partnering with a group of Georgian Bay District Secondary School students, who have created the Period Project in an effort to supply feminine hygiene products throughout the school at all times.

Christine Rice, who along with partner ‘Melissa Bachmann of Century 21 Midland, said the event’s roots can be traced back to their realization last year that local food banks were having difficulty getting donations of feminine hygiene products.

“We wanted to give back in a tangible way,” Rice told MidlandToday. “Obviously, we’re women so we understand a woman’s perspective and one of the things we do every year is give back to women and the community.”

Rice said that for some women, the cost of purchasing feminine hygiene products can be difficult.

"They're not cheap," Rice said. "We're encouraging people not to buy (the donated products) from dollar stores."

Rice also recounted the story of a Grade 7 girl, who reached out to them after starting her period and not having anyone to talk to about it.

"We're also trying to break that stigma, let's talk about it," Rice said, referring to how some might shy away from discussing women's periods and the products they need on a monthly basis.

In January, the mixer will be held at Two Crows Barber Shop in Midland with products donated to La Maison Rosewood Shelter. That event will be followed by February’s offering hosted by the Compassion Place - Pregnancy and Family Care Centre.

"The cost of admission is a feminine hygiene product that's donated back to the community," Rice said. "The event also brings awareness to other businesses as well. We're really excited about it. Women are promoted but it's on a business level."

For more information on the initiative, call (705) 209-7885 or email [email protected].


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Andrew Philips

About the Author: Andrew Philips

Editor Andrew Philips is a multiple award-winning journalist whose writing has appeared in some of the country’s most respected news outlets. Originally from Midland, Philips returned to the area from Québec City a decade ago.
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