Sharing the Dignity this Christmas

I know, it’s only just November.. What’s this Christmas business?! This is for a good cause though, trust me.

As we prepare to celebrate the holiday season with our loved ones, charity organisation, ‘Share the Dignity’ is once again asking our community to spare a thought for the women and teenage girls experiencing homelessness, sleeping rough, or seeking refuge in domestic violence shelters.

In an effort to ensure that these women and girls do not go without, the charity has launched their 2019 It’s in the Bag Christmas Appeal.

Share the Dignity Volunteer, Katrina McDonald, “We want to give local women and girls, doing it tough over the holiday period a reason to smile and feel cared for, as well as restoring some of their dignity by providing them with handbags filled with essential hygiene products, as well as a few extra little treats.”

The campaign has a simple premise; Donate a handbag in good, used condition that you no longer use, fill it with items that will make a difference to the daily life of a homeless woman, be sure to include the essentials such as pads and tampons, deodorant, roll on deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo and conditioner and soap; and add the little luxuries like lip balm and new socks, a magazine, anything that would make a woman or teenage girl feel special.

Our local ‘Share the Dignity’ volunteers will collect donated bags and distribute to shelters and charities ensuring that these lovingly prepared bags are available for women and girls in time for Christmas.

Individuals who donate bags are encouraged to pop a thoughtful note into the bag, to show these women and girls that someone cares and that they matter.

This is the fifth year the charity has run the Christmas campaign, and Katrina is hoping for their biggest response yet.

“We’ve been blown away by the support this collection receives each and every year, and we’d love the communities support to show these women and girls that they are in our thoughts this Christmas.”

The campaign will run from November 22, through until December 7 and bags can be dropped off at your local Bunnings store.



Breakout**

In Australia, domestic and family violence is the leading cause of homelessness for women and their children and most women leaving a violent relationship move out of their home.


• Each year 1 in 42 women aged 15-24 will access a specialist homelessness service

• 3.2 million Australians are currently living the below poverty line with many women and young girls experiencing period poverty on a monthly basis unable to afford sanitary items.