The Martlet

Panties will help marginalized women on the lower mainland this Valentine’s day.

As part of their annual Panty Drive event, the UVic Students’ Society (UVSS) Women’s Centre is asking for new panties, chocolate and feminine hygiene products to send to Victoria’s Prostitute Empowerment Education Resource Society (P.E.E.R.S.) and the Vancouver Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre, who will then distribute the donations to women in need.

“These are really basic needs that are all too often overlooked,” said Gina Starblanket, a co-ordinator at the UVSS Women’s Centre. “Coming from a place of privilege, we can take these things for granted.”

This is the second year the women’s centre has held a panty drive. Starblanket said last year the fundraiser was an incredible success, and the centre was able to put together four large bags full of products.

“We’re hoping this year we can even make more of a contribution,” she said.

Thea Cunningham, an outreach worker for P.E.E.R.S., said that the products will be distributed from their RV as a part of their night outreach program.

The RV regularly parks at Government and Discovery and in the Rock Bay area, and distributes clothing, food, hot drinks, harm reduction supplies and condoms to women active in sex work.

“Women can come into the trailer if they’re cold, or if they just want something to eat,” said Cunningham. “Last year’s donations helped out a lot.”

On average, between 400 and 500 women visit the RV for services over the course of a typical month.

“[The panty drive] is a way of showing an appreciation to women who run these organizations and commit their lives to working with marginalized women,” said Starblanket. “It’s an opportunity for people on campus to begin to organize around issues that their privilege might otherwise isolate them from.”

Send your panty drive donations, until Feb. 13 to the UVSS Women’s Centre, which is located in room B107 in the Student Union Building (SUB).