‘Menstrual poverty’ comes in many forms, primarily poor education on menstruation due to financial constraints and a lack of access to necessary sanitary products, waste management systems and hand washing facilities.
It is a global problem affecting millions of women worldwide. One survey of 2000 women aged between 18 and 55 found that nearly half had suffered from a lack of access to female sanitary products, education or basic amenities. This means that for thousands of women living in poverty, periods are a great source of worry, shame and distress.
Share the Dignity is a national charity with the goal of ending period poverty in Australia. The charity frequently works with Australia’s most vulnerable populations, including the homeless and those fleeing from domestic violence to make a real difference in their lives.
To date, they have donated over 2.4 million tampons and 3000 menstrual cups along with over 500,000 Christmas goodie bags filled with essential period and hygiene products for those in need.
Asides from the It’s In The Bag campaign Share the Dignity also hosts DigniTea and Move 4 Dignity, signature events aimed at collecting donations and educating the public.
This year Pherrus Financial Services and The Beauty Base at Narellan and Gregory Hills have joined hands to support Share the Dignity’s mission of ending period poverty in Australia.
We will be donating 200 bags full of Hygiene products worth $10,000 for the charity’s latest donation drive. These bags will be collected by Share the Dignity and distributed to charities across Australia so they can reach the people that need them most.
Due to COVID-19, the charity’s latest Dignity Drive collections have been severely impacted, so this donation will go a long way towards helping them fulfil the thousands of requests for period products they receive from schools, hospitals and community organisations.
Share the Dignity is an outstanding charity helping thousands of women every year. We encourage you to get involved and help out in any way you can. If you’re looking to donate, the 2020 It’s In The Bag campaign will run from the 20th of November to the 29th of November with drop off points at Bunnings stores nationwide.
Alternatively, you can help out by donating your time. With over 5000 volunteers across Australia, volunteers are a significant part of the organisation. Share the Dignity volunteers help collect and distribute donations with leadership, administrative and operational roles also available. For more information click here.