Australian period poverty charity Share the Dignity is calling for donations of bags filled with essential items to restore dignity and hope to women and girls fleeing domestic violence or experiencing homelessness at Christmas.
This year launches the biggest “It’s in the Bag” campaign yet with 150,000 donations needed to support a surge in requests from more than 3000 registered charity partners.
People can support by donating a bag at their local Bunnings Warehouse until 30 November.
It’s in the Bag encourages people to fill a new or unused bag with unopened essential items, including a toothbrush and toothpaste, shampoo and conditioner, roll-on or solid deodorant, soap or body wash and period products (for an adult bag) and a few extras for a mum and bub bag or teen bag.
Share the Dignity Founder Rochelle Courtenay said every year demand increased and they struggled to close that gap.
“It’s devastating to know that for every bag donated, there’s another woman we can’t reach,” Ms Courtenay said.
“We have already begun the horrible task of preparing our charities for the worst because the requests have increased so drastically.
“We can never meet demand, but this year we’re trying really hard to try and close that gap.
“Until the system changes, we’ll keep showing up, because we can’t change their circumstances, but we can change their Christmas.”
Previous “It’s in the Bag” recipient Gemma knows firsthand the dignity a bag brings when facing domestic violence, being forced to flee her home with her children, and only being able to gather what she could carry for them on the way out.
“I felt seen and heard that day. When you leave, you’re thinking about packing the kids’ things, packing what you need to get to the next place, but you don’t think about the necessities, and It’s in the Bag thinks about the necessities.
“The little things. And it’s for the woman.”
Bunnings Chief Customer Officer Rachael McVitty said hardware chain was proud to support Share the Dignity with the Christmas appeal, hosting collection boxes for bag donations at more than 300 stores until Sunday 30 November.
“This year, we’re putting our full support behind Share the Dignity to help them collect 150,000 bags and we’re encouraging anyone who is able to donate to put together a bag filled with essentials and drop it at your local Bunnings this November,” she said.
“If you’re short on time, we’ve also got the option to buy a virtual bag through our website.
“We’re excited to have some new ways to support Share the Dignity this year, selling Dignity First Aid Kits and hosting a national ‘Decorate to Donate’ workshop where customers will have the opportunity to use their creativity for good and decorate a tote bag to use for their donation.”
To learn more about the campaign and how to show support for women and girls facing homelessness, domestic violence or poverty, visit the It’s in the Bag website.
This year, five women who have previously received an It’s in the Bag donation have bravely shared their experience.
When Jaklyn received an It’s in the Bag donation, it was a simple but restorative gesture.
She’d spent Christmas alone and terrified, having fled domestic violence with nothing, feeling shameful and undeserving of anything – even a gift.
The bag she received allowed her to feel clean and valued again and helped her regain a sense of self-worth. It showed her that someone else cared and that she was worthy of love.
“That was really important to me, to finally have something for myself. To hold onto products that were mine and for me. Because I hadn’t had that in a very long time,” she said.
When Essie fled DV, she was isolated, and her funds had been cut off completely by her perpetrator.
She was starting a court process and needed to find accommodation for her and her 11-month-old daughter, so receiving an It’s in the Bag meant there was one less thing to stress over.
“When you’re in such a desperate situation, it’s so hard to ask for help…To the person who packed my bag, thank you so much. It really has changed my life.”
Another survivor, Amy, shared what it felt like for her.
“I didn’t wash my own hair for 2.5 years. If I had gotten into the shower without telling him or tried to wash my own hair, he would break through the ensuite locked door and rip the shower screens off. It got to the point where I was too scared not to tell him,” Amy recalls.
“The impact that he had on me and my daughter mentally and emotionally – you can’t reverse that… The bag restores your faith in humanity… your dignity and self-worth.”
