My name is Veronica Arnold, and I am a Wellness Advocate in Paul and Vanessa Jean’s tree and have been for quite a few years under my business Hearts Minds & Flowers (HMF).

I have been working closely with Share the Dignity and its founder, Rochelle Courtenay, and their new fundraising manager Ami Reynolds over the last few years writing grants to secure funding for all kinds of projects. Share the Dignity directly benefits those in crisis experiencing period poverty. They believe that everyone deserves to be afforded the dignity so many of us take for granted.

Nobody who experiences a period should go without period products - and no one should miss out on school, work, play, or food as a result. That is exactly what happens to many of our fellow Australians.  

Period Pride Campaign
My son and I were recently asked to participate in a Period Pride campaign Share the Dignity is running right now in Australia. This campaign is all about reducing the stigma around menstrual health in Australia and four pairs were asked to take part in the program to talk frankly about their experience of periods. My son, who is transgender, spoke about his experience. Here is a little snippet.

This campaign will continue over the next couple of months mainly over Facebook. 

As part of this campaign, Share the Dignity is asking all people in Australia who have experienced periods to take part in a 4-minute survey. This is the biggest survey ever on menstrual health in the world and will provide great data to affect change in Australia. 

Pink Box Fundraiser #pinkbox
To coincide with this, our little HMF community has launched a campaign to raise $10,000 to install and stock a Dignity Vending Machine (DVM) in Australia affectionately known as a #pinkbox. 

The DVM dispenses a FREE period pack which has six tampons and two pads in it.

I have until 31/12/21 to raise the funds for Share the Dignity. It would be great if anyone who wishes can participate by either a direct tax deductible donation, attending an event, or simply just having something within their tribe that might raise some funds towards it. Really up to you and what you might be happy to do. The more the merrier.

We are hell bent on raising the $10,000 through direct donations and through little events throughout the year. 

We are pinning down a spot where the machine is needed for us to fund. It could be anywhere in Australia – we have asked to take the first spot that’s needed once we have raised funds. That could be a women’s shelter, school, community centre, or hospital – all in low socio-economic areas where a request has been made.

Any $ donation, no matter the size, would be gratefully received, and a tax-deductible receipt if over $2 will wing its way directly to you from Share the Dignity - just click on this link and donate.

By taking the Period Pride survey and/or making a tax-deductible donation, attending an event or raising funds towards #pinkbox, you are helping to Share the Dignity.