THREE Loreto College students have sparked a school-wide commitment to support Ballarat’s homeless women and victims of family violence.
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The students have collected hundreds of sanitary napkins and tampons for the Share the Dignity campaign.
Year 11 student Hannah Armstrong contacted Share the Dignity because she wanted to support Ballarat women in need and thought an all-girls school would be able to help.
She said she had to act after hearing about the difficulties homeless women face when they had their period.
Hannah said homeless women in Ballarat were chosing between food and sanitary products.
Students Gemma Foord and Ellen Mason, and the college’s faith and mission director Peter Rix got on board the project.
A pink bin was placed in a public area of the school for students and staff to donate sanitary products .
“It’s something most of us don’t think about. It’s unfathomable to think that homeless women often have to choose between food and sanitary products,” Mr Rix said.
College principal Judith Potter commended the students on initiating the drive.
“Their commitment to social justice and affecting real change for real people is a wonderful example to all,” Ms Potter said.
Ballarat mother Deb Harris launched the successful Share the Dignity campaign in Ballarat earlier this month.
She said the donation from Loreto College would make a difference to the lives of Ballarat’s homeless women and victims of family violence.
“The girls at Loreto are amazing,” Ms Harris said.
“It’s a valuable thing they have done.”
Ms Harris said the sanitary products would be distributed to Ballarat’s homeless women through organisations including UnitingCare and Ballarat Soup Bus.
She is planning a high tea in Balllarat to collect sanitary items on Saturday May 28, 2016.
The campaign draws to an end this weekend. People can donate sanitary items at Fernwood Ballarat or facebook.com/sharethedignity.