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- You Can Help Women and Girls Doing It Tough This Christmas By Donating to ‘It’s in the Bag’
You Can Help Women and Girls Doing It Tough This Christmas By Donating to ‘It’s in the Bag’
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Homelessness is a pretty big deal in Australia, and we don’t talk about it enough.
The poverty rate in Australia is worse than in most developed countries around the world, with 3.24 million people (13.6% of the population) living below the poverty line.
Poverty isn’t just about being financially poor. It’s also about the major inequalities built into the fabric of Australian society. One in eight adults and one in six children are living below the poverty line in Australia right now. To live ‘under the poverty line’ in Australia means anyone whose living standards fall below an overall community standard.
Not only do people living in poverty have low levels of income, but they also miss out on opportunities and resources most of us take for granted; from expensive staples such as housing and education, to the “little” things most of us barely think about; like pads and tampons.
They’re living in a world that doesn’t allow them basic needs, integral opportunities for growth and substantial support for their physical and emotional needs. For some, they’re skipping meals and rationing food. Others are skipping doctors’ appointments and medication and compromising the basic need for menstruation products.
Imagine a world without self-care. Imagine having a truly awful day and not being able to paint your nails or put on a face mask. The fact that some of us have the ability to do these daily self-care rituals without feeling any financial stress is something to be wildly grateful for, but also to be taken as a sign to give back.
Luckily, it’s pretty easy to do with Share the Dignity’s #ItsInTheBag campaign.
How It Works
Share the Dignity is a women’s charity in Australia working to make a real difference in the lives of those experiencing homelessness, fleeing domestic violence, or doing it tough.
They help by distributing period products to women, girls, and anyone who menstruates and needs support. Let’s be real: when someone is doing it tough, dealing with their period should be the last thing on their mind.
With the rising cost of living, ongoing impacts from the pandemic, worsening domestic violence rates and displacement due to recent natural disasters exacerbating Australia’s homelessness crisis, #ItsInTheBag donations are greatly needed. According to the AIHW, 167,400 women and girls received assistance from specialist homelessness agencies in 2020-21, and 53 per cent had experienced family and domestic violence.
Among other work they do to help put an end to period poverty, Share the Dignity has an incredible #ItsInTheBag. Now in its eighth year, #ItsInTheBag aims to ensure that every woman and girl spending Christmas in a refuge or domestic violence shelter, receives the basic essentials — including pads and tampons, deodorant, toothbrush and toothpaste, shampoo and conditioner, and soap — as well as little luxuries such as hair accessories or a handwritten note.
“One bag has the ability to change the world for another woman,” Share the Dignity Founder and Managing Director, Rochelle Courtenay, told POPSUGAR Australia.
“With the increase in the cost of electricity, food, interest… the number of people experiencing homelessness and domestive violence is only rising. There are women that aren’t able to wash their hair and have lost all sense of hope, and these women are among us, they could be us.
“A simple gift can provide hope and dignity, and that’s what the festive season is all about.”
Charities across Australia place requests to Share the Dignity for #ItsInTheBag bags for their clients and community. They put in an order, with the number of people that are in need of the essential items that Share the Dignity provides in their #ItsInTheBag bag.
How You Can Help
There are a few options when it comes to getting involved in Share the Dignity’s #ItsInTheBag campaign.
Donate your own bag
This is a simple, easy and affordable option. It’s also a really nice way to add something extra special in your bag so that the receiver can feel extra loved.
Here’s how:
- Find a good condition or new bag to fill (e.g. handbag, backpack or duffel).
- Fill the bag with essential items (you can find checklists on their website here).
- You can then add in some extra special additions and a handwritten note.
- Tell your friends about #ItsInTheBag.
- Take it to a Bunnings near you for collection between November 18 – 27.
- Feel warm and fuzzy for making someone feel special at Christmas!
@sharethedignity Help a new Mum and her Bub this Christmas by putting together an ItsintheBag. Each Mum & Bub bag helps a mum fleeing DV, experiencing homelessness or doing it tough 💕 #sharethedignity
♬ Summer day – TimTaj
What if you can’t get to a Bunnings near you between November 18 – 27?
You can mail your donation directly to: Share the Dignity, PO Box 345, Sandgate QLD 4017.
Another really nice thing to do when creating your bag is to take a video of you making the bag and post to social media to spread the word using the hashtag #ItsInTheBag.
Sponsor a bag
If you can’t commit to making your own bag, you can still help by sponsoring a bag to be gifted on your behalf.
Here’s how:
- Go to the Share The Dignity website.
- Select a donation amount and pre-priced package.
- Your bag will be packed by Share The Dignity volunteers and delivered to someone in need.
- Your gift will show someone they’re loved.
Host an #ItsInTheBag Packing party
You can also register to host an #ItsInTheBag party, to go one step further and raise more money and more bags for people in need. You can register to host here.
Think Tupperware party, but one that helps women and children in poverty! Obviously, it would be super fun to do IRL, but virtual parties with wine are still super fun and successful.
Go in with a friend
Are you personally experiencing financial struggle right now? It’s a tough time for us hustling boss babes, too. But if you’re able to spare $10, there’s still a way to help.
“You can chip $10 in with a friend and go shopping for some essential items,” Courtenay suggests. “It’s such a nice time to spend time with your friends, helping others, but also makes it much more affordable.”
For all the information on what to put in your bag and more about Share the Dignity, head to their website.
