Share the Dignity’s second sanitary drive for 2017 began across the country on August 1, and continues until August 31.

Share the Dignity was founded in 2015 by Rochelle Courtenay after she discovered that thousands of Australian women cannot access sanitary products when they need them.

For over 85,000 Australian women and girls this is their reality.

“Homeless women, women in domestic violence shelters, women and girls in dire poverty, simply can’t afford sanitary products, so they improvise – they use paper towels, newspapers, socks even dried leaves to create makeshift sanitary pads. Its traumatic, embarrassing and undignified.

“And in modern day Australia, it’s unacceptable.”

Rochelle was appalled and decided that “Someone should do something – and that someone is me”.

She held her first sanitary drive in March 2015 in her neighbourhood in Brisbane. Since then Share the Dignity has grown into a national charity, and this year, Bathurst is on board.

Kylie Carter, who volunteers for Share the Dignity in Bathurst said all people are asked to do is buy a box of pads or tampons, and drop them off at collection points across the city. 

Current drop off locations are Joblink Plus in George Street, John Mathews Chemist, Macquarie Medispa, the Neighbourhood Centre Russell Street, Terry White Chemist, Lifeline in Stewart Street and Wattle Tree House in Rankin Street.

She said all products donated will be redistributed to women in need in Bathurst.

“Everything donated in Bathurst will be redistributed locally,” she said.