It will be packed with practical products needed by vulnerable women and girls in our community, and nestled in with the practical will also be personal items given to gift joy and communicate caring to a person who is living in a crisis situation.

Nicole Wiffen is one of four ‘Share The Dignity’ Sheros in the Manning Valley who daily work to collect donated bags from Bunnings Taree and the Commonwealth Bank in Manning Street and deliver them to Wiffen Property Agents in Taree.

The countdown to the close of the local ‘Share the Dignity, It’s In The Bag’ Christmas promotion sees more than 90 bags collected from our area and Nicole hopes the number will significantly increase by Saturday, December 1 – the final day donations can be dropped to Bunnings Taree.

“It is wonderful that we can help women in our community,” Nicole said.

Nicole is part of a small team that includes Louise McLeod, Susan Ballard and Barbara Green. It is Nicole’s third year as a Shero, and it is a role she values for its opportunity to make a difference in the lives of so many women in our community.

Local support for the annual ‘It’s In The Bag’ promotion continues to grow each year, says Nicole, as does community donations to the bi-annual ‘Dignity Drive’ for pads and tampons. ‘Share the Dignity’ is a national women’s charity that collects thousands of pads, tampons and personal hygiene products every year for women experiencing homelessness and poverty. It also funds funerals for victims of domestic violence and campaigns for justice for women in Australia, according to its website sharethedignity.com.au

Nicole says there are many people in our community who “are not having such a great time in their life, and to be able to have a packet of pads or a packet of tampons during that time of the month rather than having to just use toilet paper makes a difference.”

Nicole says each bag must contain certain essential items; shampoo, conditioner, toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, deodorant and sanitary items. However, the bags almost always are packed with many more items.

“People have placed gift vouchers, fragrances, scarves, money, so the ladies can go and buy something special, socks, thongs, hats, makeup, it’s amazing and wonderful what’s been given by so many people.”

Nicole urges people to consider creating a bag to give and adds that if they can’t get it to Bunnings Taree before December 1, then it can be delivered to Wiffen Property Agents in Taree before December 6.

“We will be meeting in our office to plan the distribution of the bags so anyone who is running a little bit late with their bag donation can drop it here.”

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