Share the Dignity is running its annual ‘It’s in the Bag’ Christmas drive and is looking for donations in the Seymour region.
The charity, now in its seventh year, was founded by Queensland woman Rochelle Courtney in 2015, after she read an article about the challenges of menstruation when experiencing homelessness.
It has grown from having a small base in the northern suburbs of Brisbane to being an Australia-wide charity.
Share the Dignity lead for Victoria Wendy Appleton says that the concept is like Kmart’s ‘wishing tree’.
“The idea is to give something nice,” she said.
Members of the public are encouraged to get a handbag or backpack and fill it with essential toiletry items plus a few extras to help a woman in need.
The bag needs to be clean and near new, as it will be given as a gift. The contents of the bag must not include food, medication, sharps or used products (apart from the bag).
Once the bags are filled, they can be donated at Bunnings from November 17 to 28.
Once sorted by local Share the Dignity volunteers, the bags are dropped off to local charities who distribute them to registered clients. For the most part, donations stay local, Ms Appleton says.
She encourages anybody who is in position to donate to make up a bag, as donations may help somebody locally in need.
For more information visit https://www.sharethedignity.org.au/itsinthebag