An anonymous donor has stepped up to help Planned Parenthood in Newfoundland and Labrador deal with a shortage of condoms.

Costa Kasimos, the executive director of Planned Parenthood for Newfoundland and Labrador, said a new donor came forward after hearing about the shortage in CBC News stories.

"They got in touch with me and said that they had teenage children as well, and they understood the importance of this program," said Kasimos.

"So they wanted to see if they could do something for us and they got in touch with the people they work with, and they decided to come through with a donation."

Ansell, the company which makes the Lifestyles brand of condoms, announced last year it would stop making condom donations to sexual health organizations across Canada. Ansell had donated more than 500,000 free condoms annually.

Condoms arriving soon

Kasimos said he is expecting a shipment of 40,000 condoms and 40,000 packages of personal lubricant, valued at more than $12,000.

He added that Planned Parenthood had approached the provincial government to pick up the cost of free condoms, but government had turned them down.

In recent months, said Kasimos, the condoms were missed. He said 1,500 people used to stop into Planned Parenthood to pick up condoms, and others were distributed through schools when the groups does educational outreach programs.

"We went into a number of schools on the Burin Peninsula. We actually didn't have any excess condoms to bring with us," said Kasimos. "Some guidance councillors actually said to us that they were really hoping we would have some, but unfortunately we didn't have the stock."

Kasimos said the condom donation will cover Planned Parenthood's needs for about a year.

"We're going to be taking this good news in, and once we settle down, we're going to figure out a long-term strategy."