Share the Dignity’s August Drive calls on the community of Maranoa and surrounds for period product donations at their nearest Woolworths.
The community organisation is aiming to collect at least 200,000 period products to ensure those experiencing or being at risk of homelessness, domestic violence or poverty don’t have to risk their health and go through the indignity of using other items in place of period products.
Share the Dignity’s Dignity Drives allow people to donate period products to ensure people have access to the most basic of essentials.
All donations will be distributed by volunteers to Share the Dignity’s 3,000 plus charity partners including homeless and domestic violence shelters along with other organisations helping our most vulnerable community members.
Throughout August, Woolworths will donate 5 cents from the sale of every period product purchased to help fund Share the Dignity’s Dignity Vending Machines, with more than $2.5 million donated since the partnership began.
Pink collection boxes will also be available in Woolworths supermarkets across Australia for the donation of period products.
Roma Share the Dignity Volunteers Tamsyn Sward and Monique Turkalj share their thoughts on the drive.
“Living in Roma means we are surrounded by community-minded people,” Ms Turkalj said.
“We have been talking to local community organisations, charities and community groups, encouraging them to register on the website to receive items collected in August.
“We are excited to see what August has in store for the Share the Dignity drive and are looking forward to delivering items back into our local community at the end of the month.”
“We [also] want the Roma community to know that products donated will stay in the community,” she added.
Ms Sward said that, with a lot of women and girls doing it tough, Share the Dignity’s cause is important to her.
“Volunteering for Share the Dignity gives you a sense of purpose and the thought of ‘if I can make a small difference, then why not?'” she said.
“Donating is as easy as picking up a period product when your shopping and popping it into the collection box outside your local Woolworths during the month of August.
“I like the fact that I can give back to the local community with a physical item that someone needs.”
The number of women and girls experiencing homelessness is on the rise with a 10 per cent increase reported since 2016 with 40 per cent of those surveyed citing domestic violence as the primary reason.
Women and girls appear to be disproportionately affected by social issues, with research also finding 53 per cent – 1,754,000 – of those living below the poverty line are women and girls.
People looking to support the Share the Dignity donation drive can help by dropping off period products at any Woolworths supermarket or a number of nominated businesses nationwide throughout August, or by visiting the Share the Dignity website.
