Local women experiencing period poverty as a result of COVID-19 will have support when Share the Dignity partners with Mossman Woolworths for the August Dignity Drive.

The economic and financial impacts of COVID-19 has meant that even more women are having to make the choice between buying food or sanitary items, with Share the Dignity reporting a 54 per cent increase in the number of charities registering for the August Dignity Drive, when compared to the previous Drive held earlier this year.

Over 10,900 sanitary products were donated via Woolworth's collection boxes across Queensland during the March Dignity Drive. These products were then distributed to girls and women who cannot afford to buy sanitary items.

Share the Dignity volunteer State Leader, Tamara McMaster, said as COVID-19 continues to impact communities across Australia, it’s so important that we come together to help those in need during these difficult times.

“Through no fault of their own, more women and girls in Douglas Shire are not going to be able to afford basic essentials and will have to resort to toilet paper, socks or washers to deal with their period,” she said.

“Together with Woolworths Mossman, we’re calling on the local community to support our August Dignity Drive by purchasing their sanitary items at Woolworths or donating what products they can to our collection boxes. Each donation is so valuable to us and will go towards supporting the lives of women across Queensland.”

Woolworths will also donate five cents from the sale of pads, tampons and liners in August to Share the Dignity, to help the charity fund more Dignity vending machines that dispense free sanitary items to women experiencing homelessness, fleeing domestic violence, or facing difficult circumstances.

Woolworths Mossman, Store Manager, Kiley Brown, said, “at a time when community support and kindness is more important than ever, we are incredibly proud to be partnering with Share the Dignity for the August Dignity Drive.”

‘We’re always amazed by the generosity of our customers and the support they show for our Dignity Drives. It’s this small act of kindness that goes such a long way in supporting vulnerable girls and women across Douglas Shire,” she said.

Woolworths has partnered with Share the Dignity since early 2019 and, in partnership with its customers, has raised more than $1.3 million for the charity. The funds raised to date are being used to install 80 Dignity vending machines across Australia.