Women and girls who are homeless or living in volatile or challenging environments in Taree can now access free Share The Dignity pads and tampons.
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Socks, material, wadded toilet paper is being used by women and young girls in the region who cannot access or buy pads or tampons, and so Samaritans Taree and Share the Dignity worked together to set up a $10,000 Pink Box Dignity Vending Machine in the reception of the Samaritans' Victoria Street office. It's stocked, it's free to use and it's accessible Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm.
Nicole Wiffen is the Share the Dignity 'Shero' who will manage and stock the machine with boxes that hold two pads and six tampons, and she is "so excited that this much-needed support is available to vulnerable women and girls."
"Share the Dignity demographics research shows the areas that most need it, and they decided Taree needed a Pink Box," Nicole said.
"Share the Dignity has really opened my eyes as to how many women and girls in this area are in need."
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"We try to get more than 300 handbags in a donation drive ... and that is the requested number from charities and support services in this area. That's a lot of women who are fleeing domestic violence or facing homelessness for whatever reason," Nicole said.
Nicole is hopeful the Pink Box will positively impact the lives of women and girls by providing a way to access sanitary items for free in a dignified environment.
"People just have to press a button and the machine will dispense one pack for free. It is wonderful that it is located in the Samaritans because this is where people are coming to get help."
Natalie Owens is a case worker who describes the Samaritans as a "homelessness hub". The office is in Victoria Street, opposite Cafe Nosh.
A plastic tub of donated sanitary items also sits in the office reception area, and Natalie says the Pink Box will offer women access to "something that is more reliable and consistent."
"It's a challenge to manage your period when you're in a volatile or vulnerable situation, it's not something that is a priority for women to access when they've got to feed kids, pay bills, fund education costs.
"It's also a challenge for teenage girls at school, and it's quite a sensitive issue that can cause a lot of anxiety and embarrassment.
"We take it for granted, access to those basic necessities, and so it's really important to support women who don't have the means to buy sanitary items. It's an expensive monthly cost for women."
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- Samaritans Taree meets increasing need for crisis housing as homelessness rises
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