Blacktown City Mayor, Tony Bleasdale OAM is encouraging residents to give generously and help women and girls in need through the Share the Dignity August Dignity Drive.
Blacktown City Council, through Blacktown City Libraries, has partnered with The Ponds Rotary Club and Share the Dignity to install a Dignity Vending Machine at Max Webber Library, Blacktown in late 2021.
Share the Dignity is a women’s charity that distributes period products to women and girls in need.
“Our Council is proud to support the installation of this vending machine at Max Webber Library and help end period poverty,” said Mayor Bleasdale.
“Share the Dignity is a fantastic charity that collects hundreds of thousands of period products every year to distribute to women and girls experiencing homelessness, fleeing domestic violence, or experiencing socio-economic disadvantage.
“This initiative ensures these women and girls have the products they need to guarantee their dignity when they are experiencing other challenges in their lives.”
Located in the women’s toilets on the ground floor of the library, a vending machine provides free period packs, containing two pads and six tampons.
The vending machine is one of more than 380 installed across Australia and since its installation, the library vending machine has provided 1,654 period packs alone.
The Ponds Rotary Club President Sharina Shanaz, who works as a volunteer ‘shero’ with Share the Dignity, says: “Our mission is to ensure everyone is afforded the dignity they so truly deserve.
“We work hard to provide vending machines in areas of need and this machine is obviously making a difference in the community.
“At this library, there are so many women of non-English-speaking backgrounds and there is also a big proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island background, so it is important to provide these products at this location.”
August Dignity Drive
In August, you can help women in need by dropping off period products at collection boxes at all Woolworths stores nationwide.
Donations can also be mailed to: Share the Dignity, PO Box 345, Sandgate, QLD, 4017.
Online donations can be made on Share the Dignity’s website: www.sharethedignity.org.au/get-involved/drives-and-collections. Just $5 can provide a pack of period products for someone in need.
