Share the Dignity volunteers with State MPs.
Camera IconShare the Dignity volunteers with State MPs. Credit: Supplied/Supplied,

Share the Dignity marks five years with March charity drive

Staff WriterJoondalup Times

IT has been five years since Share the Dignity started as initiative to collect and distribute personal hygiene essentials to women experiencing homelessness, domestic violence and period poverty.

The charity has held collection drives in April in previous years, but this year brought the month-long campaign forward to coincide with International Women’s Day on March 8.

It has set up collection points at shops, supermarkets, sports clubs, community groups and offices across WA for people to donate products throughout March.

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“We are looking for donations of pads, tampons, cups, incontinence and period aids like undies,” coordinator Trish Robinson said.

In WA, 406 organisations are registered to receive assistance from Share the Dignity, which received more than 38,000 requests for sanitary items in the state in 2019 and collected more than 24,000 sanitary items last year.

Volunteer WA charity coordinator Jan Lewsey said the success of the collection relied on help from people like Joondalup MLA Emily Hamilton to raise awareness.

“Our organisation has provided around 2.5 million sanitary products to women and girls since 2015 yet there is still a shortfall in terms of need,” she said.

The MP has set up a collection at her electorate office on Wise Street in Joondalup.

“Having access to clean and safe sanitary items and facilities should be afforded to every woman in our community,” she said.

Visit www.sharethedignity.com.au to find your nearest collection point.

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