Women shouldn't have to decide between eating dinner and buying tampons.

That's the message from a group of organizers who are hosting an event to raise funds for menstrual health and feminine hygiene products for marginalized women living in the Downtown Eastside.

Chiara Martini, a local yoga instructor, and Erin Levine, a Vancouver chef and holistic nutritionist, were inspired to take action by a viral video that drew attention to the difficulties that arise for homeless women when they get their periods.

"A big box of tampons probably runs around $10, so that could be half of what we make during the day," says Courtney, a homeless women living in New York City, in the video.

Another, Alexa, says, "I would rather be clean, than be full."

Calling their event For the Sisters, Martini says that after identifying the needs of the women in the local community, she and Levine felt compelled to address them. 

"For the Sisters is a group of women in Vancouver working hard to increase accessibility to health and wellness for our sisters in the Downtown Eastside. Women's health is important across the board, and this is something that all women deal with," Martini told the Straight last week in a telephone interview.

"It's an essential need, and it's something that's really simple that we can all help each other with."

Martini gathered the women in her life that she knew would be as excited as she was to assist her, and together, they've planned an evening of homemade desserts, guest speakers, live music, and a raffle draw in a move to raise funds and gather products for three different Downtown Eastside organizations.

Gathering over food, she says, is in her Italian blood, and she's excited to collaborate with Levine on that aspect of the evening.

"We're organizing it so that people can come and buy a ticket, and donate money that way, or they can donate products," she added.

In the future, Martini hopes to turn the event into an ongoing initiative, and create care packages to distribute to women through the organizations she's linked with, but for now, supplies and donations will be shared among the Atira Women's Resource Society, Vancouver Women's Health Collective, and the Bloom Group, which runs the Powell Place Emergency Shelter for Women and Springhouse Emergency Shelter.

"If there's a continuous supply at three major organizations, then hopefully women who need the products will know where they can go to get them," she says. "It's really important that organizations have direct links to supplies."

Live music will be played by local artists Annie Becker and Jessie St. James, and prizes for the evening will be donated by Moment Meditation, Lunapads, Woodlot Candles, Hoochy Booch Kombucha, Dharma Movement Company, Nordstrom, and more. 

For the Sisters: A Fundraiser takes place this Saturday (March 25) at Dharma Movement Company (1083 Cambie Street). Tickets for the event are just $20, and each one includes an automatic entry to the raffle.

Follow this link to donate or buy tickets.