A Millicent business has again lent its support to a charity which assists women and girls with basic necessities in the lead-up to Christmas.
A year ago, the Millicent Veterinarian Clinic was able to forward 78 filled handbags to Share the Dignity.
Across the nation, a record 134,000 handbags were given away in 2019 and they contained essentials and special gifts to make Christmas one to remember.
Millicent Veterinary Clinic is again accepting donations for the cause from its customers and the general public.
Donors are asked to drop in any donations to the clinic on Mount Gambier Road during business hours.
The donations go to Foodbank in Mount Gambier, which are then distributed around the South East including to women and girls in Millicent.
As before, the local backers of Share the Dignity are long-serving Millicent Veterinarian Clinic support staff Angela Van Schaik and Maris Bateman.
Ms Van Schaik said some of the 2019 donors were among the first to take part in the campaign which has the catchy motto “it’s in the bag”. She said each bag should contain both mandatory and optional items.
“Inside the bag, we require period products, shampoo, conditioner, toothbrush, toothpaste, body wash and roll-on deodorant,” Ms Van Schaik said.
“In addition to this, you can add any products or gifts you think some in need may appreciate or may not necessarily buy themselves.
“The handbag itself does not have to be brand new but it needs to be in good condition. “When I prepare my bag ahead of each Christmas, I look out for goods on special through the year.
“They might be one of the essentials or a gift. “Share the Dignity started as End Period Poverty and expanded to this pre-Christmas charity campaign. “We had a client in the clinic last Christmas who mentioned she was pleased to receive a handbag through Share the Dignity.”
The Millicent Veterinarian Clinic supports various causes such as the appeals for the victims of last summer’s tragic bushfires across the nation.
Ms Bateman explained what motivates the clinic to provide such support. “It is about giving back to the community,” Ms Bateman said.
