Need to Share the Dignity greater than ever

THIS month’s Share the Dignity drive, collecting sanitary products for women in need, was less successful than usual due to toiletry hoarding in supermarkets.

But local area Share the Dignity “queen,” Barbara Merrifield wants to remind people that they can still give packets of pads and tampons they won’t use to those who are more vulnerable than ever, or in isolation.

“People should be thinking of the less fortunate. They are forgetting that there’s still homeless people. It’s a sad situation. There’s a bigger and greater need for help now than previously,” she said.

“I’m still here to help my neighbours and people I know that are struggling, and if they need something you’ve got, you share. That’s the Australian thing to do.”

To start, Ms Merrifield said people could contact their local neighbourhood houses and other places the public go for crisis assistance, to offer them sanitary supplies.

“We usually look after Cafs, WRISC, Centacare, BADAC, Eureka Mums, a few different Salvos in Ballarat, Yuille Park has a young mothers’ group, the YMCA…

“Share the Dignity says when this is over, we’ll deliver to charities again, but how long’s that going to take? What’s going to happen to these people in the meantime?” she said.

“Look after your neighbours and community as best you can.”

Visit sharethedignity.com.au for more information about future drives.