By Parker McKenzie
A Belgrave student has dedicated her year 12 senior project to raising donations for women and girls in need.
Mater Christi College student Jocelyn Doyle helped source 20 bags of essential items for Share the Dignity’s #itsinthebag campaign.
The annual campaign aims to donate essential items like sanitary products, deodorant, nappies and dummies for women escaping domestic violence or suffering from homelessness in the lead up to Christmas.
Miss Doyle said staff and students supported her cause through the school.
“Every little bit of help goes a long way,” she said.
“Even if it’s just a bag of underwear, pads or a toothbrush, it means a lot to people who may not have anything.”
The bags are dropped off at Bunnings and distributed to 3000 Australian charities that have registered for the campaign.
Sara Mugridge, Miss Doyle’s year 12 teacher, said a lot of women who are fleeing domestic violence don’t have access to essential items.
“We’ve talked a lot in classes about it because Covid has kept people in their homes, the level of domestic violence has escalated,” Mrs Mugridge said.
“There’s a lot more people out there looking for shelter and to get out of abusive homes, and looking for other places to live in and feel safe.”
Miss Doyle said she was encouraged to help further the campaign by Share the Dignity’s founder Rochelle.
“She was in a domestically violent situation herself and wrote about how her mother was brave enough to escape, but it was still really hard on her to carry on trying to lead a normal life,” Ms Doyle said.
“She thought of this idea, got together with a couple of people and made it happen.”
In the past four years #itsinthebag has donated 617,517 bags to women and girls in need, with 93,981 of those in 2020.
People wishing to get involved or donate to the campaign should visit www.sharethedignity.org.au.
