Power Packs

A social initiative that provides homeless women in Toronto with feminine hygiene kits.   

[freakpplco]

Freak Ppl Co. are here, queer and social entrepreneurs

George Brown students start clothing line, with funds to support women experiencing homelessness

George Brown College (GBC) students Kelsey Orlando and Kathleen Marques are taking back the word freak.

Their social enterprise Freak Ppl Co. is a feminist and queer enterprise based out of Toronto that produces hand-made and environmentally sustainable clothing that pays fair wages.

Having both taken the social enterprise course with professor Natalie Wood in the social service worker (SSW) program, they were able to see a need within their community and develop that into a plan of action.

“There’s definitely closeted queer people at GBC, (as well as) out people, and there’s not enough visibility of the queer community,” said Marques. “What we want with the t-shirt line is to say that we’re here and we’re queer and you’re not alone.”

After being accepted into the social innovation hub within the SSW program, they were ready to start their mission. The hub is an early-stage incubator for ideas and innovative projects that drive social change and social justice.

They are currently screen-printing their own branded T-shirts, and “it has been learning curve after learning curve, but positive learning curves,” Marques said.

“Freak Ppl Co. is for anyone that has been labelled, or labels themselves as freak, crazy, misfit or outlier,” said Orlando. “We invite everyone to push the boundaries of conventional society.”

Right now, the two are focused on getting their website up, establishing a wholesale connection to produce their T-shirts and getting their first batch of shirts out there.

Funds from Freak Ppl Co. T-shirts go directly into Orlando and Marques’s social initiative, Power Packs for homeless women.

Power Packs are feminine hygiene kits which include eco-friendly pads, tampons and other items such as underwear and feminine wipes for women who identify themselves as homeless.

“Homelessness looks so different for various people—whether it’s couch surfing or living on the streets,” Marques explains. “There could be people attending George Brown that identify as homeless, which means there are people in our GBC community that are also in need of these resources.”

The pair recently held a pad and tampon drive at St. James campus where they collected over 800 pads and tampons from GBC students to go towards their first round of Power Packs.

Marques and Orlando have learned that it is essential for social justice entrepreneurs to believe in their ability to make an impact. Orlando advised that, “if you have something that you really want to do, don’t keep it an idea forever, make it a reality.”

Donations of feminine products to the project can be made at the social innovation hub in room 409B at 200 King St. East.

[freakpplco]

Periods an extra hardship for homeless women | Toronto Star

Life on the street for homeless women includes the monthly challenge of dealing with their menstrual cycle.

The sad reality and struggle that homeless women face on a day to day basis. These are first hand experiences of the difficulties endured by the women of Toronto. This is why our cause is so important and why our passion grows each and everyday. There is a lot of work to be done in our society, so we must take matters into our own hands.

[freakpplco]

Calling all the freaks, queers, misfits and anyone else who has felt like an outsider. We’re here and we’re queer!! Take a closer look at the great work Freak Ppl Co. wishes to do and how we plan to slowly change the lives of the freaks of Toronto. 

[freakpplco]

Periods an extra hardship for homeless women | Toronto Star

Life on the street for homeless women includes the monthly challenge of dealing with their menstrual cycle.

The sad reality and struggle that homeless women face on a day to day basis. These are first hand experiences of the difficulties endured by the women of Toronto. This is why our cause is so important and why our passion grows each and everyday. There is a lot of work to be done in our society, so we must take matters into our own hands.

[freakpplco]

Having a period is difficult enough, imagine trying to cope with it while living on the streets.  27% of Canadian identified women are homeless. Many of them are forced to choose between a meal, or tampons/pads.  These items are essential necessities, yet they are so difficult for homeless women to attain.  Not only are they extremely expensive, homeless shelters have a limited supply and tend to give out very minimal.

My social initiative Power Packs contains a variety of feminine products, to help ease the pain of periods of homeless women.  The packs include tampons, pads, wipes and underwear. They will be donated to homeless shelters across the city of Toronto, in attempt to help as many women as possible.

Remember how privileged you are to be able to afford a box of tampons or pads, when “that time of the month” comes around.  Next time it comes, pick up an extra box and donate it to a homeless shelter near you to help the homeless women in your community.

[freakpplco]

ALL F R E A K S ! #FreakPplCo is hosting a pad and tampon drive @gbcollege to jump start our social initiative that provides homeless identified women with feminine hygiene packs; or what we at FPC like to call POWER PACKS! So on Feb. 7th drop your extra pads and tampons off at 200 King Street! #freakpplco #queer #toronto #gbc#torontoqueer #torontohomeless #women #woman #lesbian #gay #pride #help #helping #homeless #periodproblems #periodblood #pads #tampons #poverty #tampondrive #powerpacks #lgbtq #loveislove #humanrights (at 200 King St George Brown)

[freakpplco]

Having a period is difficult enough, imagine trying to cope with it while living on the streets.  27% of Canadian identified women are homeless. Many of them are forced to choose between a meal, or tampons/pads.  These items are essential necessities, yet they are so difficult for homeless women to attain.  Not only are they extremely expensive, homeless shelters have a limited supply and tend to give out very minimal.

My social initiative Power Packs contains a variety of feminine products, to help ease the pain of periods of homeless women.  The packs include tampons, pads, wipes and underwear. They will be donated to homeless shelters across the city of Toronto, in attempt to help as many women as possible.

Remember how privileged you are to be able to afford a box of tampons or pads, when “that time of the month” comes around.  Next time it comes, pick up an extra box and donate it to a homeless shelter near you to help the homeless women in your community.

[freakpplco]

Periods an extra hardship for homeless women | Toronto Star

Life on the street for homeless women includes the monthly challenge of dealing with their menstrual cycle.

The sad reality and struggle that homeless women face on a day to day basis. These are first hand experiences of the difficulties endured by the women of Toronto. This is why our cause is so important and why our passion grows each and everyday. There is a lot of work to be done in our society, so we must take matters into our own hands.

[freakpplco]

Calling all the freaks, queers, misfits and anyone else who has felt like an outsider. We’re here and we’re queer!! Take a closer look at the great work Freak Ppl Co. wishes to do and how we plan to slowly change the lives of the freaks of Toronto. 

[freakpplco]

Periods an extra hardship for homeless women | Toronto Star

Life on the street for homeless women includes the monthly challenge of dealing with their menstrual cycle.

The sad reality and struggle that homeless women face on a day to day basis. These are first hand experiences of the difficulties endured by the women of Toronto. This is why our cause is so important and why our passion grows each and everyday. There is a lot of work to be done in our society, so we must take matters into our own hands.

[freakpplco]

Having a period is difficult enough, imagine trying to cope with it while living on the streets.  27% of Canadian identified women are homeless. Many of them are forced to choose between a meal, or tampons/pads.  These items are essential necessities, yet they are so difficult for homeless women to attain.  Not only are they extremely expensive, homeless shelters have a limited supply and tend to give out very minimal.

My social initiative Power Packs contains a variety of feminine products, to help ease the pain of periods of homeless women.  The packs include tampons, pads, wipes and underwear. They will be donated to homeless shelters across the city of Toronto, in attempt to help as many women as possible.

Remember how privileged you are to be able to afford a box of tampons or pads, when “that time of the month” comes around.  Next time it comes, pick up an extra box and donate it to a homeless shelter near you to help the homeless women in your community.

[positivedoodles]

[freakpplco]

Having a period is difficult enough, imagine trying to cope with it while living on the streets.  27% of Canadian identified women are homeless. Many of them are forced to choose between a meal, or tampons/pads.  These items are essential necessities, yet they are so difficult for homeless women to attain.  Not only are they extremely expensive, homeless shelters have a limited supply and tend to give out very minimal.

My social initiative Power Packs contains a variety of feminine products, to help ease the pain of periods of homeless women.  The packs include tampons, pads, wipes and underwear. They will be donated to homeless shelters across the city of Toronto, in attempt to help as many women as possible.

Remember how privileged you are to be able to afford a box of tampons or pads, when “that time of the month” comes around.  Next time it comes, pick up an extra box and donate it to a homeless shelter near you to help the homeless women in your community.

[rhcdanthe]

you’re perfect just the way you are !!

13//365 | #e39dc9

[sanaa-k-illustration-deactivate]

[freakpplco]

Periods an extra hardship for homeless women | Toronto Star

Life on the street for homeless women includes the monthly challenge of dealing with their menstrual cycle.

The sad reality and struggle that homeless women face on a day to day basis. These are first hand experiences of the difficulties endured by the women of Toronto. This is why our cause is so important and why our passion grows each and everyday. There is a lot of work to be done in our society, so we must take matters into our own hands.

[freakpplco]

Calling all the freaks, queers, misfits and anyone else who has felt like an outsider. We’re here and we’re queer!! Take a closer look at the great work Freak Ppl Co. wishes to do and how we plan to slowly change the lives of the freaks of Toronto.