Sanitary charity appeals for aid during shortage

Homeless women’s charity Share the Dignity is in urgent need of donations, with its stock of sanitary items 20,000 packets below-target.

A combination of social distancing restrictions, hoarding of items and an increase in women needing the organisation’s services has contributed to the shortage. The charity concentrates on period poverty, and with the increase in unemployment and more opportunities for domestic violence, it is expecting a rise in demand for its services in the region.

Great Southern co-ordinator and volunteer Trish Robinson said with people stuck at home during isolation, more women would be seeking refuge and needing sanitary items.

“The virus is out there, but my tormentor is in here so where do I go? What a dreadful thought to have,” she said. “We have been putting a lot of products out in the community — very carefully, of course — over the last month and supporting groups doing welfare and supporting those women.”

The group holds a drive for donations each year.

This year, they moved the drive to March, only for it to be hit by COVID-19 restrictions.

Ms Robinson said there were a lot of women who had suddenly lost their jobs, were yet to receive their Centrelink payments, and had never used a welfare agency before. “They have no money, they can’t go to the shop, and they can’t pay their rent,” she said.

“We have taken an entire section of middle class and moved them below the poverty line.”

Collection boxes are outside volunteers’ homes.

Those who wish to donate can contact Mrs Robinson on 0478 603 148 or trish.robinson@sharethe dignity.org.au.