Toiletry packs for those in need
Our recent casual cash quarter saw proceeds going to Zonta Club of Bendigo. Founded in 1980, the club works to advance the status of women through initiatives and projects locally and further afield.
Through casual clothes days AFS raised $300 to donate to Zonta to assist funding their toiletry packs. A toiletry pack costs around $14 to put together and includes everyday essentials that aren’t the first things that come to mind when fleeing from your home. Included is shampoo and conditioner, toothbrush and toothpaste, soap, deodorant, sanitary items, a hair brush and occasionally hand creams.
The packs go to wherever there is need – to Annie North refuge, Haven; Home, Safe, the Centre for Non Violence and even as far as an Indigenous group in Mildura. You can see all of the associated groups and programs here.
The Zonta Club of Bendigo donates 250-300 of the packs per year to women in need, many of whom have children with them.
If you thought that was a lot of packs, the family violence stats are even more concerning, showing that one in six women experience physical or sexual violence from the age of 15, compared to one in 19 men from that age.
The toiletry packs can mean a lot to women who have left their homes to escape violence and may not have the spare money to buy the items themselves.
A staff member nominated Zonta for our casual cash recipient and after some research into the club we knew it was a great cause to support. For more details on Zonta Club of Bendigo head to www.zontabendigo.org
