Short on Shero's as the Manning/Great Lakes campaign countdown begins

Shero numbers are low in the Manning and Great Lakes areas. New volunteers are needed to help with the three Share the Dignity campaigns that run each year. Photo | Share the Dignity

One half-price special at a time I am shopping for the contents of my Share the Dignity ‘It’s In The Bag’ donation.

I’ve gifted a bag each year since 2018 and this year I will admit that I had cause to pause when I looked to my budget and thought, ‘Can I afford to do this?’

A valid question when I need to buy a bag, shampoo, conditioner, toothbrush, toothpaste, period products, deodorant, and body wash.

My answer of ‘Yes, I can do it,’ and decision to shop for specials is founded on the fact that a vulnerable woman in our community would miss out on receiving a gift that demonstrates kindness and practical support during a time of crisis.

The bag contents are a work-in-progress as I search for half-price specials to help with the cost of creating a bag to donate to Share the Dignity. Photo | Ainslee Dennis

I am sharing my budget deliberations with you because it’s important to keep it real, and to acknowledge that it’s not always easy to give, but if it helps in your decision-making process, I will add that it is always rewarding. There is joy to be found in knowing that your bag will be chosen, opened with curiosity and excitement, and its contents will deliver comfort and dignity.

Last month I interviewed Share the Dignity ‘Shero’ Susan Ballard about the upcoming ‘It’s In The Bag’ campaign and I learned that our region really needs more ‘Shero’ recruits. Click here to read the story.

Thoughts of retiring the Shero shirt have been put aside, says Susan. “I keep doing it because if I left it would leave our region in the lurch.” Photo | Ainslee Dennis

It was during the interview that I said to Susan, “I’ll sign up to be a Shero’, which elicited a lovely smile and immediate direction to visit the Share the Dignity website to complete the volunteer registration process. So, I am now a ‘Shero’ who has signed up to do five shifts during the ‘It’s In The Bag’ campaign which runs from November 15 to December 1 and am awaiting arrival of my bright pink ‘Shero’ shirt!

I am hoping to help Susan to recruit a few more ‘Sheros’ to share the campaign workload in the Manning and Great Lakes areas, and to prompt people to create their first bag to donate to the ‘It’s In The Bag’ campaign. It’s also lovely to know that bags dropped to Bunnings Taree and Bunnings Forster during the campaign period of November 15 to December 1 will help women in our community.

I do hope you’ll join us!

Love, pray and do.