Gaál, Hacker and BIPA-GF Geyer: Project against period poverty should reach even more girls and women
Vienna (OTS) – Since October 2023, every BIPA branch in Vienna has had the “Red Box” against period poverty. At every BIPA branch, girls and women who need support can use their voucher booklet to get a free pack of Bi Comfort “Red Box” pads or Bi Comfort “Red Box” tampons per month.
The City of Vienna and BIPA are now continuing to roll out the “Red Box” offer. The number of places where the vouchers are issued will be significantly increased after the first few months of the project.
Vienna is making period poverty an issue. Because not everyone who needs period products can afford them. To ensure that unhealthy, unhygienic alternatives such as toilet paper, fabric scraps or plastic bags are not used, the City of Vienna and BIPA have launched the “Red Box”. The first few months have shown that there is enormous interest and the voucher booklets are very popular.
There are now 120 distribution points for “Red Box” voucher books
In order to reach girls and women even better and to recommend the free “Red Box” to them, the number of cooperation partners who give out voucher books has now been expanded from 84 to 120. In addition to youth centers, the women’s health centers FEM, FEM Süd and the First Love advice centers, the voucher booklets are now also being distributed in the new women’s health center FEM Med in Favoriten, in facilities for homeless people and people with disabilities and various social advice centers. The wohnpartner neighborhood centers also give out voucher books to girls and women who need them.
“Red Box” fundraising project is a success
You can also buy the “Red Box”. For every “Red Box” purchased, 50 cents go to a donation project against period poverty.
City of Vienna and BIPA: Together against period poverty
“The ‘Red Box’ is an initiative that specifically addresses the wishes of Viennese women. In the women’s survey ‘Vienna, as she wants’, Viennese women wanted free period products. By expanding the ‘Red Box’ to more locations, we can now reach even more women who need support,” says Vice Mayor and Women’s City Councilor Kathrin Gaál. “One thing is clear: every woman and every girl in Vienna should have access to menstrual hygiene products – that is a basic need. That’s why the Red Box project is so important,” said Gaál.
“The idea of the Red Box is extremely well received,” says City Councilor for Health and Social Affairs Peter Hacker. “The voucher books are also in demand because they can be redeemed easily and without stigma. Every red box helps a woman who already has to watch every euro because of the price rise.”
“We are very pleased that the Red Box project has been well received and that we – together with the City of Vienna and our BIPA brand Bi Comfort – can make an important contribution to combating period poverty and promoting equality in the health sector,” says Markus Geyer, Managing Director from BIPA.
Who receives the “Red Box”?
- Women who can shop in a social market in Vienna
- Girls attending a youth facility in Vienna
- Clients of the women’s health centers FEM, FEM Süd and FEM Med
- Patients at the Vienna First Love counseling centers of the ÖGF
- And from now on also clients of the
- homeless assistance facilities,
- Facilities for people with disabilities
- Clients of the residential partners’ neighborhood centers in the municipal buildings
- Clients of social counseling centers such as social counseling for sexual health etc.
This is how the red box works:
- Women and girls who need support receive a quarterly voucher booklet for one free “Red Box” per month.
- With the vouchers, tampons or sanitary pads from the BIPA brand BI COMFORT, which are marked as a “red box”, can be picked up in all BIPA branches in Vienna.
- The voucher booklet is valid for 3 months – at a Vienna BIPA branch you go to the checkout with the booklet and a “red box”.
- If you want, you can also buy the “Red Box”. For every pack purchased, 50 cents go towards combating period poverty.
All information and locations where voucher books are available: wien.gv.at/rote-box
Questions & Contact:
Gerda Mackerle
Press spokesperson for Vice Mayor Kathrin Gaál
Tel.: 0676/8118 81983
E-Mail: gerda.mackerle@wien.gv.at
Reinhard Krennhuber
Media spokesman StR Peter Hacker
Tel.: 01 4000 81248
E-Mail: reinhard.krennhuber@wien.gv.at
Mag.a Kristina Hametner
Head of the Vienna Program for Women’s Health
Tel.: 01/4000 84200
Email: women’s health@ma24.wien.gv.at
Mag. Paul Pöttschacher
REWE International AG
Group press spokesman
+43 2236 600 5267
p.poettschacher@rewe-group.at
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