Member for Maitland Jenny Aitchison MP is again proudly supporting the Share the Dignity Drive, an initiative to ensure all women have access to basic sanitary items.
Every day, there are homeless women and victims of family violence who cannot afford to purchase essential sanitary products like tampons and pads.
The Dignity Drive occurs in April and August each year. During the Drive people are encouraged to purchase sanitary products and donate them to a collection point.
Ms Aitchison’s office, at 2/12 Elgin Street, Maitland, is collecting items for the Drive.
“This is an initiative that makes a real, on-the-ground difference to the lives of women and girls experiencing homelessness and poverty,” Ms Aitchison said.
Ms Aitchison is the Shadow Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault and is particularly passionate about ensuring that vulnerable and at-risk women are supported.
Share the Dignity states that 55 per cent of the females who present to homeless services cite family violence as the number-one factor behind their situation.
“Every woman should have access to such a basic need that a lot of us take for granted,” Ms Aitchison said. “Unfortunately, due to circumstances such as a woman fleeing a domestic violence situation, poverty or cultural stigmas, these basic necessities are not readily catered for.”
In 2018, Share the Dignity distributed more than 400,000 sanitary items and, to date, has collected more than 1.2 million packets of pads and tampons.
With the number of Australians experiencing poverty and homelessness on the rise, it is expected that demand for the service will be even higher in 2019.
Each year, Ms Aitchison participates in the Dignity Drive and the ‘It’s in the Bag campaign’, which occurs in November.
“I’m extremely grateful to the local community for the support they’ve given to previous Share the Dignity campaigns,” Ms Aitchison said. “It shows we live in a caring and generous community.
“My office will again serve as a donation collection point this April, and I encourage everyone who can to drop off sanitary pads, menstrual cups or tampons.”
