Why toiletries are a bloody good gift, actually
Thousands of women across the country facing homelessness or fleeing domestic violence will receive the gift of dignity in bags of essentials this Christmas.
Amy* didn’t wash her own hair for two and a half 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,” she says.
“It got to the point where I was too scared to not tell him.”
When Amy and her daughter fled their family home, they received a bag from Share the Dignity’s It’s in the Bag campaign, which provides bags of essentials to women and girls facing homelessness, domestic violence or poverty.
She says receiving the bag filled with essentials – including shampoo – was a big turning point.
“We had not come out of a good situation when we received our bags,” Amy says.
“When I left, I had to rebuild our lives again. The impact that he had on me and my daughter mentally and emotionally, you can’t reverse that.
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“The bag restores your faith in humanity that not all people are like this. I had a lot of difficulty having showers and there was shampoo and body wash that I hadn’t bought because I was so scared.
“The bag restores your dignity and self-worth.”
This year marks the tenth year of its It’s in the Bag Christmas appeal, encouraging people to fill a bag with toiletries and drop them off at decorated collection boxes at any Bunnings store until December 1.
The SA volunteer meet and greet with Share the Dignity founder Rochelle Courtenay. This picture: supplied.
Each bag must have seven essentials: period products, shampoo, conditioner, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant and soap or body wash.
Share the Dignity’s national goal is to collect at least 85,000 bags this year as their charity partners who supply the bags to people in need report increased demand for period products this year.
Share the Dignity’s SA Volunteer Team Leader Bridy Bartsch says period poverty needs consistent work to overcome.
“If you give someone a jacket, they’re warm more than one winter, right? Whereas period products are consumable, and they’re gone after the first use and then you’re going to get another period, it’s the constant requirement, rather than a one-off,” Bridy says.
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“I think that’s the hardest thing about that particular area is that it’s inevitable, but not necessarily well talked about. There’s a lot of stigma so therefore a lot of people are in a position where if they are in need, they don’t feel they can ask for help.
“I think we can all imagine what it’s like not to shower for a week, not knowing when the next paycheck is coming in being between jobs.
“But I don’t think a lot of, even people who have had their periods every month have ever thought how hard and horrible it must be to have to manage a period without any product or without any access to clean water and that dignity that is lost.”
Long-time volunteer Elizabeth Crawley with a collection box at Bunnings. This picture: supplied.
There are about 150 Share the Dignity volunteers across SA that check and sort the bags that are donated and deliver them to charity partners, like Baptist Care, OzHarvest and homeless shelters.
“Anyone who has clients who menstruate, we can support that,” Bridy says.
They do accept reusable period products in the bags too, like menstrual cups or period underwear, but the volunteers will make sure those products go to those who can maintain them and in some scenarios, disposable products are more appropriate.
“We’re sort of the middleman, we don’t necessarily directly see the impact from individuals, but we definitely get feedback from charity partners, and they always ask for bags.”
The It’s in the Bag campaign runs annually in November, and though Share the Dignity runs other campaigns to eliminate period poverty throughout the year, the bags are a Christmas specialty.
“They’re always sad that we only get them once a year, so it’s something that definitely has a huge impact.
“For someone in need of these basic toiletries, no one’s asking for diamond rings or anything special, it’s just the basics and it’s amazing how much that can mean to someone.”
You can pack a bag of seven essential items and donate it at your local Bunnings until December 1 or sponsor a bag online via the Share the Dignity website.
*Amy’s name has been changed for her safety.