The Kamloops Food Bank is hoping to be part of a federally funded program to provide free menstrual products to people in need.

It comes as the federal government tasked Food Banks Canada with handing out free menstrual products to members of marginalized low-income communities

Gender Equality Minister Marci Ien announced the pilot program Thursday, saying the government is injecting $17.9 million into the initiative.

Kamloops Food Bank Executive Director Bernadette Siracky says they applied to be a distributor as part of the program, noting she is confident they will be selected.

“We are serving a population that does struggle financially, we are an excellent depot to be able to get that out to the folks that really require the support.”

Siracky says this as menstrual products are a necessity.

“We are delighted that it has been acknowledged as a need, here we are offering basic needs to people so we are happy to add that to the list of products we we distribute.”

Through the project, Food Banks Canada will distribute free-period products to community organizations across Canada.

It is also going to partner with existing organizations that deal in period education to scale up their operations.

The Menstrual Equity project is part of a broader push from the government to reduce the cost of menstruation.

-With files from the Canadian Press