Started in 2015, the charitable organisation has seen over 2.9m period products collected across the country and distributed to women in need who were unable to access basic sanitary items during their menstrual cycle.

The August Dignity Drive is one of two drives, the other held in March that are run each year, where members of the public are encouraged to donate pads, tampons, period underwear, incontinence pads and menstrual cups.

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In the March Drive this year, the Riverina region donated 1175 individual products, contributing to the 162,639 products donated across the country in total.

Locals will have the satisfaction of knowing that all donated products in the Riverina, stay in the Riverina and are distributed to local charities.

This year, Mrs Courtenay says she hopes that Share the Dignity can reach a total 200,000 donated products.

"This amount could help 50,000 women for four months which is an incredible number but it's still not enough" Mrs Courtenay said.

"In the last year alone, demand for these essential products has skyrocketed by 37 percent however donations have fallen by 30 percent as a result of the pandemic."

According to Mrs Courtenay, whilst many politicians and community leaders have come on board when it comes to donating, and have used their voices in the public domain for good in an effort to solve period poverty across the nation, the problem has only grown.

"This gap we are trying to bridge has just become bigger and bigger" Mrs Courtenay said.

Even before COVID, 173,000 women turned to homelessness services in 2019, with 3.2m Australians living below the poverty line.

This number is expected to rise to approximately 5m in the next census.

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"COVID has given people a poverty crisis unlike anything that we have ever seen before" Mrs Courtenay said.

"Last year we were severely affected, like many charities, by a lack of donations but I encourage anyone reading this to volunteer their time, their voice and if they are able, their donations of essential hygiene items to those in need."

"Time is the most precious resource you have and I think that our amazing volunteers are much more than just picking up and dropping off the products, they use their voices and do what they can."

"Donations help those experiencing homelessness, fleeing domestic violence and women, girls and those who menstruate doing it tough" Mrs Courtenay said.

"We do not discriminate on who receives these products, no matter your history, background, how you identify, we believe everyone deserves a right to take control of their period with dignity."

Later this year in November, Share the Dignity will also be running their 'It's In The Bag' campaign, donating bags filled with essentials and specials gifts to those in need.

Collection points are located in all Woolworths stores.

For more information and to get involved as a volunteer you can head to https://www.sharethedignity.org.au/home

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