This November, Share the Dignity is calling on ACT residents to ensure women and girls spending Christmas in domestic violence refuges, homeless shelters or living in poverty, receive basic essentials and the gift of love and hope through their It’s in the Bag campaign.
Share the Dignity is worried it will not collect enough donations for its Christmas appeal. Almost two in five (39 per cent) of Australian women worry they cannot afford presents this Christmas, new research shows, while for the past three years, the charity has received on average 30,000 fewer bags nationwide compared to pre-COVID numbers as Australians tighten their belts with the cost-of-living pressures.
The It’s in the Bag initiative is in its ninth year and encourages people to donate a bag with a toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, soap, roll-on-deodorant, and period products – as well as optional extras such as lip balm, socks, or a handwritten note.
Bags filled with essentials can be dropped off at any Bunnings store nationwide from Friday 10 until Sunday 26 November.
In Australia, an estimated 2.7 million Australian women had experienced family or domestic violence, and an estimated 53,974 women were homeless in 2021, according to the most recent ABS stats on personal safety.
Share the Dignity’s recent survey of 3,648 Australian women found that living without basic essentials was a widespread issue. Almost one in five (18 per cent) go without the essentials included in It’s in the Bag donations due to cost.
While the number of people affected by the rising cost of living is concerning, Share the Dignity founder and managing director, Rochelle Courtenay, hopes donations would increase this year.
“Each year, thousands of women and girls are waking up on Christmas morning in domestic violence refuges and homeless shelters,” Ms Courtenay said. “For many, an It’s in the Bag might be the only gift they receive for Christmas.
“For the past three years, we have received on average 30,000 fewer bags compared to pre-Covid numbers. It breaks my heart to think 30,000 vulnerable women and girls aren’t receiving an It’s in the Bag donation and are instead going without basic essentials like period products, a toothbrush and soap.
“For those who can afford to give, I urge you to put an It’s in the Bag together this year. You never know who in your life could be experiencing homelessness, domestic violence, or be struggling to make ends meet, so please help a woman in need this Christmas.
“This year, we are expecting to receive 140,000 charity requests, and I truly hope we can meet these requests to ensure women and girls in need wake up on Christmas to receive a handbag full of hope and love.”
A ‘life-changing’ gift
Kim Hamson knows firsthand the impact an It’s in the Bag donation can have. She received a bag after she and her daughter fled domestic violence with nothing but the clothes on their backs.
“When fleeing domestic violence, by the time you’ve fled you are on rock bottom, you have no self-worth, you have no hope, you have nothing,” Ms Hamson said. “Your soul is gone. So, for a bag to arrive on Christmas, when it is the only gift you might receive, it is life-changing.
“To this day, I still use the same brand of shampoo that was in the bag. The smell makes me feel safe, reminds me how lucky I was that day to receive the bag, and reminds me that there is hope.
“When you put together a bag, you will change someone’s life for a month, for a year, for the rest of their life, because that bag gives you hope when you don’t feel like you are worth anything.”
Nikki Bensch, Share the Dignity ACT volunteer team leader, hopes to see more people in the ACT rally behind the cause to help vulnerable women and girls in need.
“We’re expecting to receive more than 3,000 requests from charities in the ACT this year,” Ms Bensch said. “For women and girls experiencing homelessness, domestic violence, or poverty, this might be the only gift they receive this Christmas.
“That’s why I am urging ACT residents to give the gift of dignity this Christmas by lovingly donating an It’s in the Bag filled with life’s essentials.”
Bunnings is proud to support Share the Dignity’s It’s in the Bag appeal again this year. The annual appeal has collected more than 623,000 bags through Bunnings stores to date.
“This is our seventh year being involved in It’s in the Bag, and it has become a cause close to the heart of many of our team members who throw their full support behind the campaign each year,” chief customer officer Ryan Baker said.
“Our team will be turning our stores pink, putting their own decorative spin on donation boxes, and welcoming sheroes who work tirelessly to collect and distribute bags to those who need them most in time for Christmas.
“It has been a tough year for a lot of Australians, and the work Share the Dignity do providing support for vulnerable women and girls is needed more than ever this year. The generosity of our customers who donate bags blows us away each year, and we encourage anyone who can to put together a bag filled with essentials and drop it off at their local Bunnings from the 10th to the 26th of November,” Mr Baker said.
“We are excited this year to make it even easier to donate by extending collection dates and offering an easy option to purchase a bag from the Bunnings website.”
Those wanting to support women and girls like Kim and her daughter can drop off an It’s in the Bag donation to their nearest Bunnings store from 10 to 26 November, Sponsor a Bag online, or register to become a Share the Dignity volunteer. Donations will be distributed to Australians in need in time for Christmas via Share the Dignity’s 3,000 charity partners.
Packing Party gives Dignity this Christmas
Share the Dignity are supporting women in our community this festive season by hosting a Packing Party for the It’s in The Bag campaign on Sunday 26 November 4-6pm at Canberra Southern Cross Club, Woden.
Your ticket includes canapes, drink on arrival and the chance to pack two essential bags to help make Christmas brighter for women and girls in need.
Share the Dignity is an Australian charity working to ensure no one is forced to face the indignity of period poverty when at risk of or experiencing homelessness, domestic violence, or poverty.
Get your tickets at: trybooking.com/events/landing/1138161
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