BAGS filled with essential items for women are being collected in the lead up to Christmas to help those affected by homelessness and poverty.
Run by Share the Dignity, the It’s in the Bag Christmas Appeal aims to collect pre-loved handbags, backpacks, beach bags, totes or cloth shopping bags filled with essentials such as shampoo, toothbrushes, soap, deodorant and sanitary items.
This year, the campaign is also collecting donations of nappy bags to support women with young children.
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READ NOWIndividuals who donate bags are also encouraged to include a thoughtful note to show the recipients that someone cares and they matter.
“We wanted to give Aussie women and girls doing it tough over the holiday period a reason to smile and feel cared for, as well as restoring some of the dignity by providing them with handbags filled with essential hygiene products, as well as a few extra little treats,” Share the Dignity founder Rochelle Courtenay said.
“We’ve been blown away by the support this collection receives each and every year and we’d love as many Australians as possible to get involved in 2018 and show the 85,000 homeless women that they are in our thoughts this Christmas.”
This is the fourth year the women’s homeless charity has run the Christmas campaign and they are hopeful this will be the biggest response to date.
Joondalup MLA Emily Hamilton is collecting bags at her electorate office at 2/1 Wise Street, Joondalup, which will be distributed to women in the community by Christmas Day.
“Share the Dignity helps women at all times of the year and there is always a box for donations in my office but Christmas can be a particularly difficult time,” she said.
“I’m sure these handbags will bring a little bit of Christmas cheer to women who are doing it tough.”
The campaign runs until December 2.