Christmas is a time for giving, but for many Australians, it’s also a time when the efforts of volunteers make a real difference for those facing hardship. At Tudor Village, residents have been working tirelessly all year to support Share the Dignity, a charity that provides essential personal care items to women experiencing homelessness and disadvantage.
Founded in 2015, Share the Dignity aims to restore dignity and comfort to women in need during some of their most difficult times. Bernice, Dorothy, and Fran from Tudor Village have been the driving force behind the local efforts, filling their living rooms and garages with bags of donated items such as sanitary products, shampoo, conditioner, soap, deodorant, toothbrushes, and toothpaste.
So, how does it all come together? Bernice shared how Tudor Village got involved in supporting the cause:
“I first got involved through my neighbours Jenny and Lorraine, who were already volunteering with Share the Dignity. From there, more and more residents at Tudor Village joined in, and the effort has just grown. We do all sorts of things: sourcing used handbags from op shops, buying new personal care items, packing the bags, and delivering them to Bunnings Lilydale, who then take care of getting them to the central sorting point.
“The handbags we collect must be in good condition with a zip, and we enjoy visiting the op shops to find more. We also receive generous donations from our fellow residents here at Tudor Village. This year, we packed 228 bags, which were just delivered to Bunnings Lilydale, along with 228 handwritten personal messages to go inside each one. From there, Bunnings helps get the bags to a central sorting warehouse, where they’re checked and then sent to various charities to be distributed to women in need.”
It’s the quiet efforts of these volunteers that help make life a little brighter for disadvantaged women this Christmas.
Share the Dignity was founded in 2015 by Rochelle Courtenay, a woman who, after facing many personal challenges, made it her mission to help others. Today, the charity has grown into a national movement with over 6000 volunteers across Australia. To learn more about how you can donate or support this worthy cause, visit: sharethedignity.org.au
