Sanitary items are a right not a privilege.
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That’s the belief behind Share the Dignity, a campaign to collect sanitary items for women in need in Ballarat.
Volunteers are calling for donations of pads, tampons and cups to collection points in Ballarat throughout August.
Share the Dignity founder Rochelle Courtenay said these items considered basic necessities helps homeless and at-risk women who may have to make the choice between buying sanitary items or feeding their family.
“So many women, every month, have to forfeit sanitary products because they cannot afford them…. Girls miss out on school simply because their families cannot afford to buy the basic necessities,” she said.
Ballarat residents are encouraged to donate unopened pads, tampons and cups to collection points at Coles stores, UFS Dispensaries, Food is Free Laneway, Fernwood Ballarat, St John of God Hospital, Chemist Warehouse, Body Be Good or the Wendouree Early Learning Centre.
All donated items are delivered to a Ballarat charity, including Berry Street, Child and Family Services, WRISC, the shower bus, the soup bus, WRISC, Uniting Care and Ballarat Community Health.
There is an urgent need to support the charities in Ballarat.
- Andrea Whimpenny, Share the Dignity volunteer
Share the Dignity Ballarat volunteer Andrea Whimpenny said around 4000 sanitary products have been distributed in Ballarat over the last two years, but there was an ever increasing need.
“I think we are all very aware of the homelessness problems here in Ballarat, but we rarely think of the very personal needs of the people who do not have access to essential items such as sanitary products,” she said.
On any given night in Australia 1 in 200 people are homeless, according to Homelessness Australia. Around 44 per cent are female.
A 2017 Homelessness Australia report revealed couch surfing among older women had doubled in the last four years.
“There is an urgent need to support the charities in Ballarat in assisting women and girls who find themselves in disadvantage and homelessness,” Ms Whimpenny said.
“We don’t judge how they got there. We just acknowledge that the problem is there and we can help ease their burden.”
Sanitary items will be collected until the end of August. Visit https://www.sharethedignity.com.au/.