The charity has been running in Echuca and surrounds for a long time, led by a small group of five women, including Julie Moyle, Lisa John and Michele Uebergang.
While the women became volunteers at different times, their desire to ensure local women have access to essential products whatever their circumstances has brought them together.
Long-time volunteer Ms Uebergang said her involvement began before moving to Echuca.
“I first heard about it when I was in Melbourne ... a girl I worked with was quite involved, so I used to try and just support with giving things,” she said.
“When I moved (to Echuca), she said, ‘Well, could you help out up at Echuca?’ because at that stage ... there was only about one or two people actually doing the work.”
Ms Uebergang quickly became a core member of the local committee and is a familiar face at the group’s Dignity Drives in March and August and the ‘It’s in the Bag’ campaign each November.
During the Dignity Drives, collection boxes are placed at Woolworths stores, where the community can donate menstrual and incontinence products.
The It’s in the Bag campaign is Share the Dignity’s major event, where handbags are filled with essential items and distributed to women in need.
It was during an It’s in the Bag campaign that Ms Uebergang recruited Ms Moyle.
Ms Moyle quickly became passionate about the cause after seeing the local need for the charity’s service.
However, since she first joined, she has noticed a decrease in the number of products they receive during their campaigns.
“There’s obviously demand, and it’s a privilege to support those that need the support,” she said.
“It’s evident that times are tough though because we’ve struggled over the last 18 months to two years.
“When I first started three and a half years ago, we were getting a lot of products, and it seems to have dropped off.”
This year’s March Dignity Drive also collected fewer donations than in previous years.
Ms John, who has been volunteering with Share the Dignity since 2017, said every contribution, no matter the size, made a difference.
“Those who can, do and whatever you can do — like if it’s one packet of tampons, that is amazing,” she said.
“The impact that it makes to not only the giver but the receiver is phenomenal.
“We had some tears last year when we were packing these bags because there was such thoughtfulness, quality and genuine thought going into it.”
The second Dignity Drive of the year is under way, with only two weeks left.
Community members can find collection boxes at the front of Woolworths stores, where they can put in any period or incontinence products.
While the Dignity Drive will wrap up at the end of the month, late donations can be dropped off to a collection box at the Echuca library.
For those who would like to lend a hand to the cause, the committee is always on the lookout for more helpers, especially during its November campaign.
For more information about volunteering or the campaigns, contact Michelle Uebergang on 0409 587 657, Lisa John on 0418 171 251 or Julie Moyle on 0409 826 336.
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