After watching a documentary about how homeless women cope during menstruation, Gloucester's Kylee Fitzgerald decided she wanted to do something to help.
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It was an eye opening video about how women manage during their cycle when they have limited funds to purchase sanitary products.
She soon learned that she could make a big difference in someone's life by donating a bag of products through Share the Dignity and started buying extra items when things were on sale.
"It's such a simple thing. It's a necessity. Something we take for granted but for them, it's a luxury," Kylee said.
"I can't imagine being on the street and having your period."
Over the past year or so, she has donated sanitary products for homeless women during the Share the Dignity collection times in March and August.
In November, the organisation started collecting essentials and special gifts including things like toothpaste and soap to go along with the sanitary products for those doing it tough at Christmas.
Kylee happily started putting things aside to make up a few special bags.
One day while shopping with her father and grandmother, Kylee spotted bags on clearance and grabbed some.
When her dad asked what she was doing, he decided he should also put a bag or two together. Kylee's generosity even inspired her grandmother to pitch in.
"So it can easily be a family thing to do," Kylee smiled.
Kylee isn't really one to brag about the things she does to help other like regularly growing her hair long so she can donate it to help make wigs for cancer patients, but she thought if maybe she let people know how easy it is to help, more people would.
By just adding an occasional item to your shopping throughout the year, just like Kylee does, it is really quite simple to collect enough for a bag or two.
Share the Dignity has collection boxes a few times a year at Woolworths Gloucester and Commonwealth Bank Gloucester branch.
For more information about the organisation, visit www.sharethedignity.org.au/.
A little about the cause...
Share the Dignity works to make a real, on the ground difference in the lives of those experiencing homelessness, fleeing domestic violence, or doing it tough.
It distributes period products to those in need and is working to end period poverty in Australia.
The organisation believes that when someone is doing it tough, the last thing on their mind should be dealing with their period.
Anne Keen
Anne has been a journalist with the ACM (Australia Community Media) since 2016. She primarily works at the Gloucester Advocate but also contributes to the Manning River Times.
Anne has been a journalist with the ACM (Australia Community Media) since 2016. She primarily works at the Gloucester Advocate but also contributes to the Manning River Times.
