Woolworths is supporting Australian menstrual care charity Share the Dignity this month through its biannual ‘Dignity Drive’ – helping eradicate period poverty in Greater Springfield.
Period poverty is a lack of access to feminine sanitary products, menstrual hygiene education, and other related washing and waste services.
It is both a local and global problem, especially affecting those facing homelessness, fleeing domestic and family violence, or severe financial pressure.
Share the Dignity – founded by Brisbane mother Rochelle Courtenay in 2015 – is leading the charge to remedy this crisis.
In support of Share the Dignity, Woolworths is donating five cents from the sale of every period care product at Greater Springfield Woolworths supermarkets (Springfield Central and Brookwater) throughout August.
And, to mark the first week of the drive – that is, from now until next Tuesday, August 8 – Woolworths is offering 30% off disposable period pads, tampons, and liners.
Furthermore, for the first time Woolworths online customers can contribute directly to Share the Dignity via donations of $2 or $5. Not only that, for every online donation, hygiene brand U by Kotex will donate an additional feminine care product – one for every $2 or three for every $5 donation.
Throughout the month, pink collection boxes will also be available in Woolworths supermarkets across Greater Springfield for the donation of period care products.
All period products including pads, tampons, menstrual cups, period undies, reusable pads, and incontinence aids can be placed in the collection boxes (in their original packaging).
Donations will be distributed by volunteers to Share the Dignity’s 3,000-plus charity partners including homeless and domestic violence shelters, along with other organisations helping vulnerable community members.
Woolworths partnership
Woolworths Queensland State Manager Danny Baldwin said the supermarket chain was “proud to continue our partnership” with Share the Dignity and support meaningful change.
“As the August Dignity Drive begins, we’re excited to launch a range of offers on personal care items for our customers,” Mr Baldwin said.
“We hope the support of this campaign can help Share the Dignity continue to reach new goals in its efforts to provide menstrual equity for all.”
Customers across Queensland showed immense support last year with more than 25,716 products donated throughout the month.
“We would also like to thank all of Greater Springfield customers for their donations, as their generous contribution has helped lessen the impact of challenging times over the years.”
Since 2019, Woolworths has donated more than $2.5 million to Share the Dignity, helping fund over a hundred of the charity’s ‘Dignity Vending Machines’.
These machines dispense free packs of pads and tampons located in community centres across Australia – such as hospitals, homeless hubs, charity premises, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community health services, and other places of need.
Support in a crisis
Share the Dignity founder and managing director Rochelle Courtenay said they are aiming to collect at least 200,000 period products nationally during its latest drive – to support increased demand from charity partners.
“You never know what someone is going through and, at the very least, let’s ensure they can manage their period with dignity,” Ms Courtenay said.
“We often come across heartbreaking stories, such as a recent incident of a father living in a car with his daughter.
“His daughter had experienced her first period, and unfortunately found himself unable to source the support she needed.”
For more details, visit sharethedignity.org.au. For more information about period poverty, visit the United Nations webpage: unfpa.org/menstruationfaq.
See also: Men’s health issues to ‘take a hike’
