Each year the ‘It’s In The Bag’ campaign gives vulnerable women and girls a reason to smile over the festive season. This collaboration with Share the Dignity restores dignity by sharing handbags filled with essential hygiene products, plus a few extra treats. ‘It’s In The Bag’ is a simple idea which works like this:
• Donate a handbag in good, used condition that you no longer use.
• Fill it with items that will make a difference to the daily life of a vulnerable woman or girl.
To ensure those in need receive items best suited to them, there are a variety of bag options:
Adult bags
Be sure to include essentials such as sealed packets of pads and tampons, roll-on deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner and soap or body wash.
Teen bags
Essentials include period products suitable for younger bodies, roll-on deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner and soap and body wash.
Mum & bub bags(identified by purple ribbons or tags)
Essentials for Mum include maternity and breast pads, roll-on deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, and soap or body wash. Baby is sure to need newborn nappies, disposable nappy bags, wipes, dummies, baby wash, nappy rash cream and baby shampoo.
Feel free to add little luxuries like lip balm, new socks, a magazine; anything that would make a woman or teenage girl feel special. A handwritten note added to the bag is a thoughtful addition.
Who is Share the Dignity?
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. We distribute sanitary items to those in need and work to end period poverty here in Australia. When someone is doing it tough, the last thing on their mind should be dealing with their period.
We assist those in need through collecting thousands of period products each year through our collection drives and campaigns and distribute them directly to over 3,000 charities across Australia.
Where and when can I donate?
Donations can be made from Friday 19 November to Sunday 28 November 2021. ‘It’s in the Bag’ collection boxes will only be available in Bunnings stores open to the public between Friday 19 November until Sunday 28 November 2021, in accordance with State health guidelines.
FightMND
Bunnings was proud to support the FightMND Big Freeze campaign for the third year running, donning blue beanies to help raise awareness and funds to fight Motor Neurone Disease (MND).
Founded in 2014, FightMND was established with the purpose of finding effective treatments and ultimately a cure for Motor Neurone Disease.
From the 10th May to the 27th June 2021, all Australian Bunnings stores and trade centres sold FightMND beanies to support the Big Freeze.
Together with our customers, Bunnings has raised and contributed over $1.1m for FightMND.
All funds raised are going directly to FightMND, who aim to ultimately find a cure for Motor Neurone Disease.
We want to say an enormous ‘thank you’ to our customers and team for coming together to help FightMND raise funds for research into fighting this disease, and for helping to make a positive difference in the community.
Bushfire relief
Our stores are actively supporting the many communities that continue to be impacted by bushfires. This has included providing products, time and services to those in need, supporting emergency services and those who’ve lost homes, businesses and livelihoods.
In addition, over 100 team members have taken paid time away from work to fight fires as members of the CFA, CFS, RFS, SES and defence force reserves. Bunnings continues to provide unlimited paid support to these team members who are a critical part of the response effort.
Bunnings has also helped to raise and contribute over $850,000 for Australian communities impacted by bushfires through donations and a fundraising sausage sizzle at all stores across Australia and New Zealand on Friday 24 January, which was manned by team members. The final contribution included more than $100,000 of direct donations from team members which was matched dollar for dollar by the business. All funds will go to the Australian Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund who will use these funds to continue their work in evacuation and recovery centres, provide food, water and other emergency supplies, supply emergency cash grants, support people experiencing vulnerability, and plan recovery programs that are tailored for each community.
This follows a national fundraising sausage sizzle held in November 2019 which helped raise and contribute $620,000 for GIVIT to support Australian communities impacted by drought and bushfires. GIVIT are currently utilising the funds raised to help those who need it most; such as supplying water and other essentials to Queensland families who have used all of their house water to fight the fires, and providing food and grocery vouchers to families who lost their homes in the bushfires in NSW.
We recognise that the recovery and rebuilding effort will be long term. Our support will continue on a local level where our stores operate and team members live.
