Share The Dignity – #itsinthebag
I’m SO disorganised. I have little bursts of organisation – if anyone has seen my Christmas tree they can see that I am capable, but usually if I’ve got one thing handled it means I’ve dropped something somewhere else.
I’ve been meaning to put together a bag for Share The Dignity bag all year. ALL YEAR I knew this was coming up. I knew when the cut off date for the drop off points were, and so of course I remembered to actually do it AFTER the collection points have closed!
Crap.
But, all’s not lost. There is actually time to get the bag in. I just have to post it. The address is:
PO Box 345
Sandgate QLD 4017
What Actually Is Share The Dignity?
Share The Dignity is a charity that provides homeless women, or women who are experiencing domestic violence, with essential personal hygiene products. Things like pads and tampons. It’s something I hadn’t even considered until I heard of Share The Dignity. How do you manage a period when you don’t have the money to buy those items?
Share The Dignity also raise money to fund funerals for victims of domestic violence and campaign for justice for Australian women.
It’s In The Bag
It’s In The Bag is Share The Dignity’s Christmas charity campaign. Essentially people donate a handbag full of sanitary items; shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, toothbrush, soap, deodorant, and of course tampons and pads. Plus any other extra luxury items you think might brighten someone’s day. They suggest donating an old handbag you have already – provided it’s in good, usable condition of course. But I don’t have a spare handbag, so I bought an expensive new one instead.
What’s In My Bag
To give you a rough idea of what other things you might put in your bag mine contains:
- Shampoo and conditioner
- Pads and Tampons
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Hair brush
- Hair ties
- Deodorant
- Paw Paw Ointment
- Sunscreen
- Little bag of Christmas chocolates (which I hope is okay! I’m not 100% sure if food items are allowed!)
Involving Children In Charitable Giving
My daughter actually came with me to buy all these items. I hadn’t planned to do it with her, I wasn’t entirely sure if I wanted to explain to my daughter that some women don’t have anything at all. But it went really well. And I asked her to think about what she might need if she didn’t have a home to live in. After I put the first few items in the bag she started to help me work out what we needed from each aisle. Then she suggested something I hadn’t even considered: sunscreen. She said “I don’t want them to get sunburnt.” Perfect.
Even though the reason this charity has to exist is terrible, it felt really good to be doing something about it. And also to start to teach my daughter to think about the needs of other women as well.
There’s Always More To Do
So, if you want to donate a bag to Share the Dignity it’s best to do it ASAP. I’m posting my bag today so that it can get to someone before Christmas, but you can post them any time. Otherwise there are more ways you can contribute to this amazing charity year round. Just head over to their website or Facebook page for more information!
